CM Magazine: The Brooklyn Bridge.

________________ CM . . . . Volume XVIII Number 40 . . . . June 15, 2012

cover
The Brooklyn Bridge. (A Wonders of the World Book).

Elizabeth Mann. Illustrated by Alan Witschonke.
New York, NY: Miyaka Press (Distributed in Canada by Firefly Books), 1996/2012.
48 pp., pbk., $12.95.
ISBN 978-1-931414-16-6.

Subject Headings:
Bridges, Suspension-New York (State)-New York-Design and construction-Juvenile literature.
Brooklyn Bridge (New York, N.Y.)-History-Juvenile literature.

Grades 4-8 / Ages 9-13.

Review by Sherry Faller.

**** /4

excerpt:

Caisson disease was a constant danger for Washington and his workers. The weight of the river water on a caisson was tremendous, and the air inside was under great pressure. Every day when their work was done, the men climbed from the highest pressure beneath the river to the normal air pressure outside. They didn�t know that their bodies needed time to adjust to the pressure change, and some became ill. Going to work was scary for the men because they didn�t know why or when the mysterious pains and paralysis would strike. Many quit because of it. Nowadays we call it the bends � deep sea divers sometimes get it when they swim to the surface too quickly � and we know how to prevent it and cure it.

Told as a story of a family that had a vision, The Brooklyn Bridge includes many technical details which explain the steps in the process of building a suspension bridge. Back in 1852, the only way to cross the East River from New York to Brooklyn was to take a ferry. John Roebling had an idea for a bridge that would allow everyone to cross at all times of the year. While he is remembered for having designed the bridge, he was not destined to build it. His death after a boating accident passed this task to his son, Washington, who was also an engineer. Huge caissons, or supports, as never before seen in America were built first. The construction of these proved to be dangerous for the workers as illustrated in the quote above. Washington succumbed to the dreaded caisson disease and spent the rest of his time in bed, watching the construction with binoculars through his window. His wife, Emily, took up the torch, and, after gaining the respect of the other workers, she supervised the rest of the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. Fourteen years later after many hardships and deaths, the famous Brooklyn Bridge was finished. This exceptional book is part of the �Wonders of the World Books� series by Elizabeth Mann and is of the same well-researched and quality as the rest in the series.

Written for any audience, the technical terms are explained and illustrated through diagrams and black and white photographs. Alan Witschonke�s drawings of the city and bridge in its various stages of construction entice the reader to look closely to absorb all the fine details. Many sketches are done in black ink over faded watercolors creating a back-in-time effect. Fold-out pages enable the reader to understand the length and height of the structure.

In The Brooklyn Bridge, Elizabeth Mann has created an excellent book for all ages. Anyone who has ever wondered about how a bridge such as this one was built will enjoy the fascinating science that made it happen. Certainly, The Brooklyn Bridge is a must for any school library.

Highly Recommended.

Sherry Faller is a teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364 Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

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