Underground: An Illustrated Journey Through City Infrastructure and How Systems Work for Kids (Ages 8-12)

Such a great book. Educational, interesting and beautiful. The age of great books like thos seems to be fading.

I love all of Macaulay's picture books. When my son (now 33) was a little boy we read them together (starting with the "Unbuilding" book) and I don't know who enjoyed them more. "Underground" is short but informative, with descriptions of the different underground utilities, how they function and why they are placed where they are. Of particular interest to me was the section on supports, piers and retaining walls. Do you know what a "slurry wall" is? David explains what and it is, why it is used and how it is constructed. A fascinating book if you or your child is interested in how things are built. Be sure to examine the drawings closely and you will find humorous artifacts buried within them.

As a child who was curious about what was below all those manhole covers and grates in the city, this was an amazing book to discover. Decades later, it’s still very much replicant and fascinating. Highly recommended.

Fun and informative, this book provides insights into the hidden infrastructure of a fictional city block. Definitely recommend for those interested, at the ground level, in urban planning.

I couldn't put it down once it was delivered. Great illustrations and I love how clearly it explains the process for foundations.

Please read this book to your children. You will live it too. If you are at all curious about how cities are constructed- and the complexity of the infrastructure- this is an educational book that is enlightening for kid and adult! Also great vocabulary that kids might not hear elsewhere. My hubby was like “I read that book you’ve been reading to the kids and it’s amazing!” This is one of a series: Castle, City, Underground, Cathedral, Unbuilding. I think this one and City are the best.

Macaulay uses his amazing talents to turn the world upside down in this unique book. Children (and even adults) will learn all kinds of things about what's beneath a modern city. I enjoyed showing my son the illustrations and explaining what it all means. Do beware, however, that this is a pretty abstract topic and that it can be difficult for younger kids to fully comprehend exactly what's going on. After all, thinking about what a city would like like with all the soil and rock removed and from many feet below street level is not a simple idea. So this one is probably best for older kids, as opposed to earlier works by Macaulay such as Cathedral or Castle that are much more tangible and easy for kids to comprehend.

I have often wondered why there are so many manhole covers, seemingly right where I need to drive, creating irritating and rough road conditions. However, I never dreamed of the complexity that goes on beneath our very feet. This book opened my eyes to a whole new world. (I still hate manhole covers!)

Bought as a gift recipient happy

Alles Bestens!

Immagini semplicemente fantastiche sia come tratto che come dettaglio che spiegano con semplicità ma appassionando il lettore la realizzazione di una metropolitana. Il testo è in inglese (c'è anche scritto nella descrizione ma noi non l'avevamo letto, ops) ma vale la pena già solo per i disegni.

... as my friend's father used to say of his old fin and chrome Chev. This book is not as old as his car. Underground, dates from the 70's -- the days before AutoCAD and its digital kin. The axionometric drawings are beautifully rendered in pen. The table of contents is a street scene with page numbers ingeniously labelled on each of the manhole covers or subway stations. The writing is educational, yet witty. Macaulay unearths everything from building foundations to the maze of pipes that make up a modern city. For the Minecraft generation, find out what really happens when you dig underground.

Für Denker und Überleger jedweden Alters zu empfehlen! Die Abbildungen veranschaulichen die sonst nur bedingt bis gar nicht sicht- und greifbaren Baustrukturen im städtischen Erdreich. Lohnt sich allemal!