If You Were a City

K-Gr 3–“If you were a city, how would you be? Would you be bookish, proud, but slightly leaning, buzzing, bright, and magic-seeming?” Maclear invites readers to travel the world from the comfort of an armchair and explore famous cities across the globe. Full-page vibrant illustrations will draw readers in to explore similarities and differences between the cities portrayed and, perhaps, the cities they have experienced. Children of various skin tones and nationalities are presented and celebrated; readers are encouraged to consider what traits of a city they find most important through the rhythmic and soothing text. A minor criticism is that the cities are not identified, which comes in the way of children fully grasping the book’s concept. The metaphor is a strong one; adult guidance may see it through.