I Love My City by France Desmarais and Richard Adam, illustrated by Yves Dumont (Pajama Press, March 2023) is a nonfiction middle grade explanation and illustration of what makes a city a city. Given the increasing urbanization of the world (apparently 55% of people worldwide live in cities!), this book provides a much needed look at the history of urban development, as well as the many complex issues that designing and running a city needs.
The highlights of this book include explanations of the many systems that coordinate in a city: water and waste treatment and care, community workers and leaders, essential services for a city, and potential hazards of an urban center, with potential green solutions. The illustrations include numerous diagrams and friendly illustrations, some of which have a clever urban cat hiding in the scene. I was most fascinated by waste water treatment plant system diagram, since about ten years ago I joined my son on a field trip of the local center and it was a total gross but fascinating experience.
I Love My City is a solid reference book for students studying urbanization or any of the aspects mention herein. Although many children would not be interested in reading it straight through, with such a readable ton, the many fact bubbles with statistics and global facts are truly interesting and some children (especially interested future civil engineers!) would love to read it through to get the overview and information that does interest them.
Note: I received a digital review copy of I Love My City.
