Bridges are awesome, and this book explores an amazing array of them in vivid colour. From a bridge so high up it skims the clouds, to bridges woven from living tree roots, this book gifts young readers an up-close look at the design, engineering and artistry in bridge-building. Illustrator Sue Downing brings to life bridges found in the UK, China, Germany, Spain, the USA, India, France, Vietnam and more, and the book finishes with a guided activity and a quiz to test readers’ bridge skills!

The My Awesome Book of series, published in partnership with RIBA and written by their Learning Manager, Sophie Draper, is designed to inspire and impress young readers with the astonishing architectural achievements all around us. Curated with expertise, care and style, the series is perfect for young readers aged 5+.

Sample contents from My Awesome Books of Bridges: What is a bridge? / Bridge types / The Webb Bridge (Melbourne, Australia) / The Cau Vang or Golden Bridge (Da Nang, Vietnam) / Millau Viaduct (France) / Kintai Bridge (Iwakuni City, Japan) / Living Bridges (Halaya, India) / The Golden Gate Bridge (California, USA) / The Bridge of Sighs (Venice, Italy) / Wildlife bridges (Germany and Christmas Island) / The Øresund Bridge (Denmark and Sweden) / Duge Bridge (Beipanjiang, China) / The Rolling Bridge and Tower Bridge (London, UK)

Sophie Draper

Sophie lives in east London with her husband and two young daughters. She has worked in cultural education for 18 years and has delivered learning programmes for families, schools and early years at the Wallace collection, the Museum of London and the National Gallery. In 2021 Sophie Joined RIBA to work with architects in teaching children and young people about the spaces where they live, learn, work and play.

Sue Downing

Sue lives and works in a little eco house in Newcastle upon Tyne with her husband and two children. She loves to draw, design and make things. Since leaving Edinburgh College of art in the late 1990s, she’s worked in-house, on a freelance basis, as an illustrator, product/licensed character developer, a designer/maker of jewellery, greetings cards and wrapping paper – never a dull moment! Sue’s inspirations are many – from knitted toys, Japanese design, and Scandinavian Chic to Modernism, Dick Bruna and Info-graphics. She’s drawn to anything that is quirky, humorous and minimal in design, and hopes that this is reflected in her illustration.