Who Built That? Bridges: An Introduction to Ten Great Bridges and Their Designers

First published in France, this third entry in the Who Built That? series centers on 10 famous bridges and those who engineered them; the book opens calendar-style, and the squat, rectangular format echoes its subject matter. Precise pen-and-ink drawings and concise text emphasize the incremental steps that go into erecting a bridge: “Once the piers were built, temporary supports were raised between them so the bridge deck could be built,” writes Cornille of France’s Millau Viaduct. Anecdotal details provide a sense of each structure’s cultural and practical significance—for example, during the inauguration of the Brooklyn Bridge, circus elephants were paraded across to demonstrate its sturdiness. Brief profiles of the bridges’ designers and glancing discussions of other notable bridges round out a meticulously illustrated, thoroughly explained study of bridge-making. Ages 6–up. (Oct.)