Brooklyn Bridge by Lynn Curlee #2

Curlee, L. (2001). Brooklyn Bridge. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Grade Level

This book would be appropriate for grades 3 – 6.

Curriculum Link

I would use this book in social studies instruction.

Author Credibility

Lynn Curlee has written several children’s books about historical monuments and architectural structures in the United States. No information about his research was listed in the book.

Awards

Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

Summary

This book has a lot of indepth information about the Brooklyn Bridge describing the planning, construction, and history of the bridge. It discusses the hardships that John Roebling, the mastermind behind the bridge, and his workers face throughout the construction of the bridge. The illustrations and diagrams in the book really supplement the story well. This story shows how the construction of the “World’s Greatest Bridge” was a major achievement of the United States.

National/State Standards

Social Studies Standards – Science, Technology, and Society

Illustrations/Graphics

The illustrations are acrylic paintings that were photographed and included in the book. The illustrations support the story being told and show the reader what it might have been like to have been a part of the crew building the bridge.

Access Features

Important access features in this book include labeled diagrams, a map of the surrounding area near the Brooklyn Bridge, a page dedicated to the specifications of the parts of the bridge, and a timeline beginning in 1869 and ending in 1883 when the bridge was completed.

Use in My Classroom

I would use this book during a study of the great monuments and architectural icons of the United States. We would discuss their significance in the history of the United States.

My Response

I really enjoyed reading this book. I was surprised at what I learned from the reading. I never knew the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge was such an important accomplishment in the United States.

Related Texts

Wonders of the World by Elizabeth Mann

Capital by Lynn Curlee

A Picture History of the Brooklyn Bridge by Mary J. Shapiro

The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough