This Bridge Will Not Be Gray

Simple questions make fine picture books. Why is the Golden Gate Bridge orange? National Book Award finalist Eggers (A Hologram for the King) begins before the bridge was built, as some Bay Area residents protest the idea: "It will mar the beauty of the land, they said. What's wrong with boats? they said." But the project goes ahead, and public opinion swings around to support it. Eggers's featherlight humor provides laughs throughout, as in the description of the bridge's steel parts journeying through the Panama Canal: "It was a long trip, but the pieces of steel did not mind, for they are inanimate objects." Although the Navy wants to stripe the bridge black and yellow, and most people expect it to be gray, Irving Morrow, the project's idiosyncratic champion, defends the vivid orange of the steel's anti-rust paint, making the proclamation that gives the book its title. Nichols's (Crabtree) construction-paper cutouts and hand-lettering provide a series of puckish visual counterpoints for the story's two important messages: that situations and objects that appear unchangeable do, in fact, come from somewhere, and that adults can squabble even more foolishly than children. Ages 3-up. (Nov.)

Gr 3 Up--"Sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in, even if it's just a color." This extensive homage to one of the most famous landmarks in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge, is quirky yet pleasing. Unassuming text conveys a bit of history about the Bay area and its ultimate quest to create a passageway from the bay to the Pacific Ocean. Paper-cut images playfully depict the faces of people who were involved with the project and those who voiced opinions about how it should ultimately look. The visual simplicity adds charm and makes this story welcoming to a wide array of readers. The length makes it perfect for sharing with those with shorter attention spans, yet it is informative and engaging for independent readers. Obviously a labor of love, it will inspire readers to find the beauty in man-made architectural wonders around the world. The book jacket unfolds into a giant poster of the Golden Gate Bridge. VERDICT A pleasing picture book that spans a variety of needs, aesthetics, and audiences.--Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH