Golden Gate

Building the Mighty Bridge

Elizabeth Partridge author Ellen Heck illustrator

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Chronicle Books

Published:7th Nov '24

Should be back in stock very soon

Golden Gate cover

The Golden Gate Bridge, beloved landmark and symbol of San Francisco, finally gets a gorgeous picture book that tells the thrilling story of how it was built! Written by National Book Award finalist and Sibert Medal winner Elizabeth Partridge.

Across a treacherous strait where deep ocean waters rip back and forth with the tides, and during the depths of the Great Depression, daring teams of engineers and builders set out to make something many thought impossible.

Begun in 1933 and officially opened on May 27, 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge and its awe-inspiring and groundbreaking construction are truly a testament to the power of hope and perseverance. Told from the point of view of the lighthouse keeper’s kids, who watch in fascination as the trucks and crews arrive and steel towers coated in heavy red paint begin to rise above the tempestuous water, Golden Gate shares a thrilling visual perspective on each stage of the breathtaking project.

Young readers can look and learn as each turn of the page reveals dazzling, color-soaked artwork paired with text that blends factual details into the narrators’ keen observations. By the final spread, where fireworks explode in celebration over the mighty bridge, the tale is complete—not only of an astonishing feat of engineering but of the potential of human ingenuity to defy the odds and make the impossible possible.

“In a second-person narrative voice, Partridge follows the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge…This enables her to highlight key events, simplify complex processes, and weave in compelling factual details. Heck’s textured art, varied compositions, and striking color choices provide the appropriate mood and gravitas for the accomplishment of such a noted architectural wonder and historical landmark.” — The Horn Book Magazine
“An immersive read…” — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“A riveting look at an iconic landmark and architectural feat.” — Kirkus Reviews

" A well-researched and excellent addition to STEM classes and library collections.”School Library Journal, Starred Review


“As the two children lead the inaugural crowd surging onto the finished bridge to the sound of foghorns on a May day in 1937, it’s hard not to join in the giddy rush.” — Booklist


“This work carefully recalls the experience of witnessing an era-specific infrastructure project.”

Publishers Weekly

ISBN: 9781452135144

Dimensions: 305mm x 229mm x 11mm

Weight: 581g

60 pages