How Science Saved the Eiffel Tower (Hardcover)

“One of the few picture-book biographies celebrating the work of an engineer, this volume tells the little-known story of a man who left his mark upon the world." —Booklist (STARRED REVIEW) The city of Paris wanted to tear down the Eiffel Tower! Gustave Eiffel, an engineer and amateur scientist, had built the incredible structure for the 1889 World's Fair. Created using cutting-edge technology, it stood taller than any other building in the world! More than a million delighted people flocked to visit it during the fair. But the officials wondered, beyond being a spectacle, what is it good for? It must come down! But Eiffel loved his tower. He crafted a clever plan to make the tower too useful to tear down by turning it into "a laboratory such as science has never had at its disposal." As the date for the tower's demolition approached, Eiffel raced to prove its worth. Could science save the Eiffel Tower? Find out in this extraordinary picture book by award-winning author Emma Bland Smith (Mr. McCloskey’s Marvelous Mallards, The Gardener of Alcatraz). With delightful illustrations, an engaging narrative, and little-known facts, How Science Saved the Eiffel Tower is sure to be a hit with soon-to-be scientists, engineers, and history buffs.

Booklist

"STARRED REVIEW! The engaging narrative builds tension as Eiffel attacks the problem of saving his tower as he would an engineering challenge, trying one approach after another until finally, cleverly, he succeeds. . . .One of the few picture-book biographies celebrating the work of an engineer, this volume tells the little-known story of a man who left his mark upon the world."

School Library Journal

When the Eiffel Tower was first erected for the 1889 World’s Fair, the citizens of Paris hated it. Only after construction was complete did they embrace its unique structure. However, the agreement with the city officials was to tear the tower down after 20 years. To keep his creation standing, architect Gustave Eiffel scrambled to make the tower practically useful. . . . The book’s text clearly conveys the complex attitudes at the time. Illustrations do a wonderful job depicting 19th-century Paris. The tower is exquisitely rendered in all phases of construction, and so are the bickering citizens of Paris. . . . Add to large nonfiction collections in need of unique perspectives on world landmarks.