Review by Booklist Review
This engaging tome introduces middle-grade readers to various aspects of cities. The book begins with a brief history of metropolitan areas and some statistics (about 55% of the world's population currently resides in urban areas) followed by facing spreads that explore types of communities (megacities, suburbs, slums, ecodistricts), infrastructure (water, power, sewer systems, connectivity), and operations (city hall, districts, public services, safety). The accessible text is accompanied by colorful graphics, including oversize fonts, information bubbles, diagrams, cutaways, maps, and many busy two-page spreads filled with diverse city dwellers going about their daily activities. The book takes a global view, citing examples from all over the world and from different times in history. Another highlighted theme is the emphasis on ecological sustainability and earth-friendly development. The final chapter is devoted to culture and considerations of architectural styles and entertainment venues (including public libraries). Back matter includes a glossary and a list of online resources. This visual treat will be useful for research projects and should also catch the attention of browsers.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--6--This comprehensive and invitingly designed book beckons readers to explore the phenomenon of the modern city in a wide range of societies throughout the world. Readers can examine cities through a variety of lenses, including architecture, engineering, technology, government, demographics, and culture. Desmarais and Adam proffer a wealth of information, from details of urban planning to public utilities such as water supply systems and energy grids. On each page, comprehensively detailed digital illustrations bring the topics to life, moving seamlessly between colorful spreads and overhead diagrams. The design of the text enhances the presentation, with paragraphs thoughtfully laid out on brick walls, lakes, and clouds of smoke. As explained in the introduction and conclusion, the creators seek to foster an understanding of cities (home to half of the world's population) as a vital element of the global community--a worthy goal for young citizens everywhere. VERDICT An excellent addition to nonfiction collections.--Jonah Dragan
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Almost 70% of us will live in a city by 2050, so our urban past, present, and future are topics of interest. Good questions are posed in this book translated from French, beginning with where and when cities were first constructed, but answers are often general: "a long time ago," "often…near rivers, seas, or oceans." Although suburbs are ancient, the authors begin their look at the suburbs "at the end of the 19th century." A sunny view of environmental responsibility prevails; threats like crime, overcrowding, or disease go unmentioned (or are mentioned only briefly), and the very greatest, climate change, is glossed over. The pages on public services have useful diagrams but fail to cite water shortages or to tell us how many (or few) global urbanites have access to potable water and sanitation; nuclear energy is not cited as an energy source, though coal is. Many brief summaries contain vast generalizations ("the city makes sure its roads and parking lots are well maintained"). A depiction of slums misleadingly shows large masonry houses in good repair, but the soft-edged illustrations are innovative, clear, and amusing. Humanized cat-citizens join diverse, funny-looking people in droll spreads. Famous landmarks form an unbroken cityscape on one spread, while people of various ethnicities, origins, and time periods make one continuous crowd on another. Information is integrated into the illustration layouts. An ambitious but somewhat generic guide to urban environments. (glossary, further resources) (Nonfiction. 7-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
