I Love My City

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

Praise for I Love My City

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"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....detailed digital illustrations bring the topics to life, moving seamlessly between colorful spreads....An excellent addition to nonfiction collections."—School Library Journal

"This engaging tome introduces middle-grade readers to various aspects of cities....The book takes a global view, citing examples from all over the world and from different times in history....This visual treat will be useful for research projects and should also catch the attention of browsers."—Booklist

"Good questions are posed in this book translated from French, beginning with where and when cities were first constructed..."—Kirkus Reviews

"I Love My City will prompt deeper learning by encouraging kids to think globally, explore on foot, and participate actively in shaping their city."—Quill & Quire

"[A] hands down winner.... Get your hands on this edition of I Love My City now. Your "curious kids" will thank you. Highly Recommended"—CM Magazine

"To inspire a conversation with young readers about the role cities can play in curbing climate change, the authors focus on sustainability, renewable energy, and improved waste management. Yves Dumont's Busytown-esque illustrations help visual learners get the picture....city-curious kids will learn a lot."—Montreal Review of Books

"A fun and interesting resource for budding engineers and users of cities anywhere."—The International Educator

"This book is a fantastic resource for readers who want to learn more about what is involved in developing a city."—YA Books Central

"I Love My City...contains anything you ever wanted to know about cities and how they operate.... It's comprehensive and general so that readers in any part of the world can gain more understanding about the places where large segments of the population live and work.... Yves Dumont's illustrations add colour and interest..."—Storytime with Stephanie

"I Love My City will be a useful teaching tool and readable book of non-fiction for young readers every day of the year."—CanLit for LittleCanadians

"The design is inviting, the information reliable and relevant, the organization top-notch, and the timeline for the life of cities quite a remarkable history.... This will be very useful in classrooms studying urban planning and how cities work, and in all nonfiction collections."—Sal's Fiction Addiction

"I loved the illustrations, which included real places around the world and people from all ages and races. I Love My City is a fascinating book about cities."—Jill's Book Blog