Partridge, Elizabeth. Golden Gate: Building the Mighty Bridge. Ellen Heck, Illus. Chronicle, 10/2024. [56]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-4521-3514-4. GRADES Kindergarten–5. OUTSTANDING.
The building of the Golden Gate Bridge in the 1930s is told from the perspective of the lighthouse keeper’s young daughter and her brother, who watch the bridge being built. The narrative is factual but almost reads like a story, with the children interacting with the workers to hear how the unique bridge was constructed, even when many people thought it was impossible. The challenges faced by the construction team are described, as are the steps needed in building what was at that time the longest suspension bridge in the world. The full-color mixed media illustrations were done on red-orange paper, and resemble realistic watercolor paintings. In many of the spreads, the bridge is shown in a panel along the bottom of the page, depicting the progress as it is being built. The book concludes with a two-page author’s note with more facts about the construction, including the participation of Mohawk workers who were experts in building skyscrapers. Includes California-specific content.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool