How Cities Work

From transportation and housing to unseen infrastructure beneath the streets, this upbeat and thorough guide to what makes a city a city lets readers peek inside buildings, vehicles, and various attractions. A mix of full-page and smaller flaps are used to cutaway effect as the book looks at how cities grow out of villages and towns, the bustle of daily life within them (an enormous skyscraper foldout is a particular highlight), and what future cities might look like. Tidbits about real-life buildings, parks, and subway systems complement the more general facts and descriptions, and Hancock’s cheery cartooning packs the pages with details to explore. Ages 8–12. (Nov.)