To unpack the equation "engineering = science + art," a quartet of pontists survey and explain bridge design. Taking a worldwide tour that goes from a fallen log across a stream in Kenya's Aberdare National Park to the 164.8-kilometer-long Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, the four guides point out salient features of dozens of bridges ancient and modern while pausing to explain loads and forces, analyze materials, give the nod to historical disasters like the Tay Bridge collapse (inviting young experimenters to test model bridges of their own), and, importantly, marvel at the beauty as well as the utility of well-designed, well-placed bridges. The cast is a diverse lot--ranging from Trudy, a light-skinned retired science teacher who zooms through the chapter on truss bridges on a tricycle, to Black-presenting fifth grader Spence, who hangs with suspension bridges--and their enthusiasm is so contagious that by the end readers willing to linger over Zettwoch's exactly drawn structures will not only view bridges in their own locales with fresh appreciation, but have no trouble distinguishing a corbel arch from a Warren pony truss. A solid, soaring survey. (glossary, bibliography) (Graphic nonfiction. 11-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

This informative offering from the reliable Science Comics series introduces Bea, Archie, Trudy, and Spence, members of a bridge fan club called B.A.T.S. The story follows the group as they travel across the globe, offering information about different types of bridges, such as beam, arch, truss, and suspension, along the way. Each member has a favorite type of bridge and gets an entire chapter dedicated to traveling to countries where some of the world's most iconic bridges are located. Librarians are no strangers to this sensational series, which presents factual information in a graphic storytelling format. Bridges brings the same high quality information and sophisticated storytelling to its readers as the rest of the titles in the series. The illustrations do a great job of providing excellent visuals of the stunning bridges throughout the story as well as displaying the facts in a way that is easy to understand. This is an easy pick for any school and public library collection.