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How Emily Saved the Bridge: The Story of Emily Warren Roebling and the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge
The amazing story of Emily Warren Roebling, the woman who stepped in to oversee the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, which was completed in 1883.
Emily was not an engineer, but she was educated in math and science. She married Washington Roebling, the chief engineer of the famous bridge. When Washington became ill from decompression sickness, Emily stepped in, doing everything from keeping the books, to carrying messages for her husband, to monitoring the construction of the bridge. She was the first person to cross the Brooklyn Bridge when it opened.
Emily, who went on to study law among many other accomplishments, is an inspiration to all, as demonstrated through Frieda Wishinsky’s informative and engaging text and Natalie Nelson’s distinctive collage illustrations. Speech bubbles revealing imagined dialogue add a playful note to this historical account, which includes fascinating facts about the Brooklyn Bridge and a further reading list.
Key Text Featuresfurther readingspeech bubbles
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.1Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions).
Emily was not an engineer, but she was educated in math and science. She married Washington Roebling, the chief engineer of the famous bridge. When Washington became ill from decompression sickness, Emily stepped in, doing everything from keeping the books, to carrying messages for her husband, to monitoring the construction of the bridge. She was the first person to cross the Brooklyn Bridge when it opened.
Emily, who went on to study law among many other accomplishments, is an inspiration to all, as demonstrated through Frieda Wishinsky’s informative and engaging text and Natalie Nelson’s distinctive collage illustrations. Speech bubbles revealing imagined dialogue add a playful note to this historical account, which includes fascinating facts about the Brooklyn Bridge and a further reading list.
Key Text Featuresfurther readingspeech bubbles
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.1Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions).
32 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2019
3 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 24, 2019
Interesting. Emily Roebling had to step in when her husband, originally in charge, fell ill during the planning and construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in the 1870s. She had to teach herself engineering, take care of their home, nurse him, raise their son, manage the over ten-year long, massive and complicated project, deal with innumerable technical and engineering issues, and many workman and their safety. And women weren’t thought to be capable of doing anything serious or complicated?
July 7, 2019
Having mixed feelings about this one.
First of all, these illustrations are not my jam, but I get that they are a style and that style is well done, so okay.
The book? There's some fun things about this book. I like the facts about the bridge, I like the fact that this is a story being told, and I like her as a character.
I have mixed feelings about this way it's all put together.
Part of me likes the little factoids sprinkled here and there, like what a cassion is and how they were sold terrible wire. I feel like there's some good research happening here and I'm glad those details weren't cut, but there needs to be more to them and more joining them together.
I also get that this woman got into this position because of the men in her life, but it feels very male-dominated at the beginning. Her brother got her into school. Her husband decided to marry her in six weeks. He gets promoted to the job of bridge building, etc. It's like she doesn't get to lead her own narrative until everyone else is sick or dead...which might just be because that's the way it happened, but don't tell me her brother got her into school. Tell me what kind of school it was and how well she did there.
I really like that her writings on women's issues and the fact that she got a law degree are included.
I feel like there's a ton of potential in this book. I wish it all hung together a bit better.
First of all, these illustrations are not my jam, but I get that they are a style and that style is well done, so okay.
The book? There's some fun things about this book. I like the facts about the bridge, I like the fact that this is a story being told, and I like her as a character.
I have mixed feelings about this way it's all put together.
Part of me likes the little factoids sprinkled here and there, like what a cassion is and how they were sold terrible wire. I feel like there's some good research happening here and I'm glad those details weren't cut, but there needs to be more to them and more joining them together.
I also get that this woman got into this position because of the men in her life, but it feels very male-dominated at the beginning. Her brother got her into school. Her husband decided to marry her in six weeks. He gets promoted to the job of bridge building, etc. It's like she doesn't get to lead her own narrative until everyone else is sick or dead...which might just be because that's the way it happened, but don't tell me her brother got her into school. Tell me what kind of school it was and how well she did there.
I really like that her writings on women's issues and the fact that she got a law degree are included.
I feel like there's a ton of potential in this book. I wish it all hung together a bit better.
July 3, 2019
A delightful story about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge in the late 1800’s and how the project was almost doomed until a woman came to the rescue and helped to complete the project
February 15, 2022
Would be good for a New York unit, women’s history month, and lessons on overcoming adversity.
October 17, 2019
How Emily Saved the Bridge by Frieda Wishinsky, illustrated by Natalie Nelson. NON-FICTION/ PICTURE BOOK Groundwood Books (Ananasi), 2019. $20. 9781773061047
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
John Roebling was trying to build a suspension bridge to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn, but was killed from an injury. John’s son, Washington, took over his father’s work on the bridge, but was made ill through his work with the compressed air while digging to the bedrock of the river. Washington’s wife, Emily Roebling, took over the project and learned everything she could about the bridge taking the project to it’s finish. Emily went on to study law and fight for women’s rights.
This is a unique and little known story about the Brooklyn Bridge. I enjoyed learning about Emily and what it took to build the bridge, but also how she overcame social conventions and did what she felt needed to be done. The illustrations are a bit strange (especially the bright red noses) and the text is lengthy for a picture book, but the story is inspiring.
Reviewer, C. Peterson
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
John Roebling was trying to build a suspension bridge to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn, but was killed from an injury. John’s son, Washington, took over his father’s work on the bridge, but was made ill through his work with the compressed air while digging to the bedrock of the river. Washington’s wife, Emily Roebling, took over the project and learned everything she could about the bridge taking the project to it’s finish. Emily went on to study law and fight for women’s rights.
This is a unique and little known story about the Brooklyn Bridge. I enjoyed learning about Emily and what it took to build the bridge, but also how she overcame social conventions and did what she felt needed to be done. The illustrations are a bit strange (especially the bright red noses) and the text is lengthy for a picture book, but the story is inspiring.
Reviewer, C. Peterson
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
June 20, 2019
I kind of......... hated this book. Like I'm interested in getting the actual story now because it seems like it would actually be pretty fascinating if it was told in a way that didn't just leave me feeling confused and a little mad.
So, my criticisms: It's flippant about sexism, feels like it spends way more time on the men in Emily's life than on her actual accomplishments, talks about her accomplishments in a weirdly dismissive way, and makes her part in the building of the bridge very unclear. I just think it's crafted poorly... like it included information that should either have been cut out completely or expanded on (the info on the faulty cables, for one), the pictures sometimes didn't fit well with the text, etc.
This feels like those picture books where the author feels like writing for kids is just dumbing stuff down. It also didn't make up for this by having end notes that give you more information.
So, my criticisms: It's flippant about sexism, feels like it spends way more time on the men in Emily's life than on her actual accomplishments, talks about her accomplishments in a weirdly dismissive way, and makes her part in the building of the bridge very unclear. I just think it's crafted poorly... like it included information that should either have been cut out completely or expanded on (the info on the faulty cables, for one), the pictures sometimes didn't fit well with the text, etc.
This feels like those picture books where the author feels like writing for kids is just dumbing stuff down. It also didn't make up for this by having end notes that give you more information.
September 29, 2021
How did I not know about her, especially since we have a family story about my 2xs great-grandmother standing on the Brooklyn Bridge a week after it opened when someone yelled the bridge was collapsing. Bestemor Hanna feared for her life and worried she would drop her new baby in the rush to escape. Thanks to Emily Roebling's persistence, the bridge was built and did NOT collapse. She was one smart, determined woman and her husband was one in a million who accepted and encouraged her intelligence and curiosity.
A note when reading this to the picture book age group: The author doesn't hold back from quickly pointing out accidents, death and illnesses while building the bridge. It's not dwelled upon, aside from Emily's husband being sick and in a wheelchair.
I did NOT like the illustrations. They're done collage style with scraps in the style of the illustrated magazines of the time. Emily has a Raggedy Ann style nose and her husband is blue. It's very weird, especially considering the more realistic illustrations of the bridge.
The author draws a lot on Brave Companions: Portraits in History
There is one page containing 6 Amazing Facts About the Brooklyn Bridge, books for young readers, selected sources (books, articles), source notes and a note on the illustrations.
A note when reading this to the picture book age group: The author doesn't hold back from quickly pointing out accidents, death and illnesses while building the bridge. It's not dwelled upon, aside from Emily's husband being sick and in a wheelchair.
I did NOT like the illustrations. They're done collage style with scraps in the style of the illustrated magazines of the time. Emily has a Raggedy Ann style nose and her husband is blue. It's very weird, especially considering the more realistic illustrations of the bridge.
The author draws a lot on Brave Companions: Portraits in History
There is one page containing 6 Amazing Facts About the Brooklyn Bridge, books for young readers, selected sources (books, articles), source notes and a note on the illustrations.
March 8, 2020
This fun book was so informative. I found it interesting how author Frieda Wishinsky packed in so much information/facts on each page without it being overwhelming or excessive. I loved seeing how this Emily Warren Roebling persisted on making sure the bridge got done despite her father-in-law dying and her husband falling sick. She even decided to become a lawyer. Her story is so inspiring to me as a woman. I always wanted to know how a bridge of this magnitude gets built. I have gone over the Brooklyn Bridge in my car but now I can appreciate the backstory and I want to walk over this. I have attended Frieda Wishinsky’s workshops and we are both a part of CANSCAIP in Toronto. I loved the unique illustration of Natalie Nelson who mixes reality with fantasy, photographs of real people, die cut people with red noses, and red skies.
June 1, 2021
Fun illustrations (except for Emily's odd red nose, what's up w/ that?) add appeal to a story that is a bit on the long side, relative to similar picture-book biographies. Back matter is good, but I, personally, hoped for clarity about how the bridge was actually built (text gave clues, but picture of digging the caissons confused me).
Emily is def. a good role model. She did a lot more than just take her husband's instructions to the worksite. And, notably, was credited so at the time! She also did more brave and important work afterwards.
I love the newest picture-book biographies that can appeal to anyone, regardless of gender or color etc. That is to say, back in the day this would have been 'she did good for a woman' and boys would not have found her inspiring, for example.
Recommended.
Emily is def. a good role model. She did a lot more than just take her husband's instructions to the worksite. And, notably, was credited so at the time! She also did more brave and important work afterwards.
I love the newest picture-book biographies that can appeal to anyone, regardless of gender or color etc. That is to say, back in the day this would have been 'she did good for a woman' and boys would not have found her inspiring, for example.
Recommended.
August 3, 2020
A picture book biography of this strong, self-taught woman.
When Emily's husband Washington became too ill to work, she studied and learned enough about engineering that she completed the project for her husband.
Wishinsky's text is solid, with quirky digital collage illustrations by Natalie Nelson adding to the story. Backmatter includes six facts about the Brooklyn Bridge, a short bibiliography of books for young readers and another for adults.
Interestingly, there is an Ohio connection here. Washington Roebling (Emily's husband) completed the work started by his father, John Roebling - who designed the Roebling Suspension Bridge in Cincinnati.
Include this in STEM education and women's studies.
Recommended for PreSchool-grade 6.
When Emily's husband Washington became too ill to work, she studied and learned enough about engineering that she completed the project for her husband.
Wishinsky's text is solid, with quirky digital collage illustrations by Natalie Nelson adding to the story. Backmatter includes six facts about the Brooklyn Bridge, a short bibiliography of books for young readers and another for adults.
Interestingly, there is an Ohio connection here. Washington Roebling (Emily's husband) completed the work started by his father, John Roebling - who designed the Roebling Suspension Bridge in Cincinnati.
Include this in STEM education and women's studies.
Recommended for PreSchool-grade 6.
October 18, 2019
Very disappointed. Not all art styles are going to be this style, but I found the art distracting and added to the flippant way the story was treated. Her uttering insipid supportive comments in word bubbles was just UGH. The six week proposal seems less relevant than them spending a honeymoon studying bridge design together. For a story based on a clever determined lady and the men who respected her, it's very man heavy without much of that feel of respect. Or of what she was up against. (Or that her husband didn't just need a wheelchair, he was blind deaf and mute for long periods of time...)
(Also, even the NY Times obit doesn't say that her brother got her into school.)
(Also, even the NY Times obit doesn't say that her brother got her into school.)
October 11, 2019
The story of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, told in picture book format and geared to younger children, especially girls. Emily Warren Roebling was married to the chief engineer of the Bridge, but when he became too ill to continue, she picked up where he left off and saw the bridge to its completion. Oh, and all this was done in the 1880's when women certainly were not engineers, let alone project managers.
I enjoyed the story very much and would recommend it to younger children, esp girls
I enjoyed the story very much and would recommend it to younger children, esp girls
August 25, 2020
Emily took over because she knew she had what it took after her husband's father caught an infection and died and then her husband who worked with him became incapacitated yet the Brooklyn Bridge still needed to be built.
I'm not the biggest fan of the style of the illustrations because I think it could have focused more on the STEM aspects of the build that Emily lent her smarts too, but it covered a few of the basics including an illness that many of the men caught because of the air pressure differences.
It works, I just wasn't blown away.
I'm not the biggest fan of the style of the illustrations because I think it could have focused more on the STEM aspects of the build that Emily lent her smarts too, but it covered a few of the basics including an illness that many of the men caught because of the air pressure differences.
It works, I just wasn't blown away.
July 25, 2019
There were lots of women behind the scenes in history that are now being brought to the attention of everyone around. Emily is a strong woman that luckily had the support of her brother and husband to get what she needed to done. Her tenacity in helping complete the Brooklyn Bridge and what she later went on to accomplish is a lesson that everyone can take to heart.
October 1, 2019
3.5 stars.
How Emily Saved the Bridge is a really cute introductory biography of Emily Warren Roebling, perfect for kids just learning about her. Any kids interested in history, rad women of the past, and engineering should find something they like here. The collage style art isn't my taste, but it's cute and it gets the job done.
Recommended for anyone looking for an introduction.
How Emily Saved the Bridge is a really cute introductory biography of Emily Warren Roebling, perfect for kids just learning about her. Any kids interested in history, rad women of the past, and engineering should find something they like here. The collage style art isn't my taste, but it's cute and it gets the job done.
Recommended for anyone looking for an introduction.
January 19, 2024
I enjoy history books for young girls. We need to publish more of these and stock schools libraries with them. Young girls need to know that they can do anything. In this world of shrinking freedoms for woman we need to proudly acclaim our HERSTORY! This is a book for elementary school girls.
May 29, 2024
I really liked this book! I’m on a bit of a graphic novel kick lately and really appreciated the bold and bright illustrations. I thought the narrative did a great job balancing being accessible and providing enough facts to make the story hang together without overwhelming the reader. And of tying one woman’s story together with advances in bridge technology.
October 11, 2019
A great story - appreciated knowing some of the fun facts, learning what a cassion is and the disaster that led P.T. Barnum to bring in his elephants for a walk over the bridge. The illustrations were a bit different and we would have been glad for more details!
September 17, 2020
Cute, but I really found myself criticising the small text that sometimes is made harder to read by the pictures. The pictures are pretty neat, but the story itself seems to need a jolt of energy to help it out. Not a terrible read, but I think it needs a little more focus in letting the pictures tell the story rather than rely solely on the heavy text.
September 8, 2021
Interesting story! I wish it had gone into a little bit more detail about the mechanics of how the bridge was made, but we still enjoyed this one a lot. My son laughed at the conversation bubbles in the illustrations.
September 11, 2021
This book taught me some interesting facts about the Brooklyn Bridge and showcases a woman who was significant to women's history in the United States. It felt a little boring to me, but it also felt like it had an empowering tone. I liked the illustrations as well.
December 5, 2021
This book is the story about a woman who took over as interim chief engineer for building a bridge after her husband fell ill. This book was lovely. My favorite part was the rooster on every spread of the story. I'm very glad that it was explained once she crossed the bridge.
June 20, 2019
This is the second book about Emily Warren Roebling published this year. I love the unique art of digital collage and photographs.
June 23, 2019
3.5 This was an interesting story of an inspiring woman I've never heard of with a powerful message for girls and unique illustrations.
June 28, 2019
An whimsical, yet informative, look at Emily Roebling and how having her guiding hand at the tiller helped create the monument to 19th century engineering that is the Brooklyn Bridge.
July 6, 2019
Another great book for the STEM curriculum!
July 11, 2019
A very interesting Pb biography about the only woman involved with the planning and building of the Brooklyn Bridge.
August 6, 2019
Would make a good biography break and could pair with.
August 20, 2019
A picture book biography of Emily Warren Roebling who took over construction management of the Brooklyn Bridge when her husband became ill. Quit a groundbreaker. Elementary and up
September 15, 2019
The story was very interesting and informative, but the style of illustration was not my cup of tea at all.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews