50 Cities of the U.S.A.: Explore America’s Cities with 50 Fact-Filled Maps

In this oversize companion to The 50 States, Balkan and Linero look at 50 U.S. cities pictured from above in grid-style maps. Introductory sections identify noteworthy characteristics (“Memphis has been called one of the most musical places on the planet and, for sure, you can hear live music each night on Beale Street”), while sidebars offer facts and ideas about how to spend a day in each city (“Dig for bones in the Bonehunters Quarry at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History,” Balkan suggests for a morning in Pittsburgh, Pa.). Readers will learn plenty of trivia-worthy details about these cities, though they may get less of a sense of their geography—the maps are fairly littered with tiny icons representing local landmarks, attractions, historical events, and figures, along with accompanying captions. Ages 7–10. (Sept.)

Correction: An earlier version of this review misstated the locations of some of the cities covered in the book.