Pop's Bridge

Author: Eve Bunting
A young boy named Robert tells this colorfully illustrated fictional story of watching his father and a thousand co-workers erect the Golden Gate Bridge over the San Francisco Bay during the 1930s. He refers to the project as “Pop’s Bridge” believing his father’s role as an ironworker is more significant than those of the other workers. Robert and his friend Charlie Shu, whose dad is a painter on the bridge, watch the bridge’s progress through binoculars from Fort Point. They also spend their time creating putting together a jigsaw puzzle of the Golden Gate. An accident happens on the bridge leaving Robert with a new appreciation for all of the construction workers, including Charlie’s dad. Author Eve Bunting emigrated from Ireland in 1959 and crossed the Golden Gate Bridge on her first day in America. While this story makes no reference to immigration, it does imply how people of varying ethnic backgrounds have worked together here this country to make great things happen, including building the impossible bridge. The generous illustrations vividly depict the Golden Gate while occasionally making caricatures of the characters. A good read for primary students.

Year Released: 2006
Grades 1-4