I Love My City - by France Desmarais & Richard Adam

About the Book

"In this full-color illustrated nonfiction title, middle-grade readers learn the why and how of cities. Topics include infrastructure and urban planning, municipal governments, services like water and energy, and how population, demographics, and geography affect cities' development around the world. Includes a table of contents, glossary, and further resources."--

Book Synopsis

The Big Book of Civil Engineering for Curious Kids

56 pages packed with information about

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How cities developed around the world

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The people who make cities their home

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Architecture and culture

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How urban planners organize a city and its services

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The role of City Hall

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Systems for water, waste, and energy

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And innovations for an eco-friendly urban future

In the spirit of
David Macaulay's The Way Things Work, I Love My City is a
treasure trove of information for middle-grade readers who want to know the how
and why of cities. Why did cities start appearing in the first place, or
become what we know today? How do urban planners know where to place fire
stations, schools, and parks? What's a water tower, and how does it fill the
pipes of thousands of people? How about roads and highways, communications and energy,
water treatment and waste? The answers to these questions and more can be found
in this richly illustrated, global guide to everything urban.

Today, 55% of the global population is urban,
and that number is only growing. In I Love My City, readers explore the
history, geography, demography, technology, infrastructure, and government of
cities, with fascinating facts about specific urban centres around the world. A
particular focus on ecology, green energy, and environmental planning moves
readers forward to consider what sustainable development might look like in the
future as well. This nonfiction STEM title, ideal for civics and social studies
units, includes a table of contents, a glossary, and a list of resources for
further research. Written by children's author France Desmarais and municipal
administrator Richard Adam, with lively full-color illustrations from Yves
Dumont, I Love My City is a captivating resource for the library, classroom,
or home.

Review Quotes

Praise for I Love My City

Fall 2023 CCBC Best Books for Kids and Teens Selection

2024 Green Earth Book Award Long List Selection

49th Shelf "Most Anticipated: Our Spring 2023 Books for Young Readers Preview" Feature

2023 The Children's Book Council "March: Hot Off the Press" Feature

"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

"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..."--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