# ID This Children's Book (NYC Nonfiction) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 7, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-childrens-book-nyc-nonfiction/466905 "2008-10-07T21:18:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-childrens-book-nyc-nonfiction/466905/1 "2008-10-07T21:18:16Z")
A friend’s first-grade son loves maps. I vaguely recall a book from 15-20 years ago, lavishly illustrated, about New York City’s various underground systems (Subways, steam tunnels, power cables, etc). It resembles, but is not a part of, the “How Things Work” series. I’d like to track down a copy for the boy. Does the description ring any bells? ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-childrens-book-nyc-nonfiction/466905/2 "2008-10-07T21:22:53Z")
_Underground_, by David Macaulay has that kind of stuff, but I don’t think it’s specifically about New York. It’s about 100 pages, with large line drawings on each page, to go with the text, explaining the underground systems: foundations, pipes, cables, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-childrens-book-nyc-nonfiction/466905/3 "2008-10-07T22:08:43Z")
The Macauley book also doesn’t resemble “How Things Work” because it’s all amazingly detailed pen-and-ink drawings. I think you should check this book out anyway, though! Also, his book _City_ shows an entire Roman town being planned out. Great stuff. My dad has [this](http://www.amazon.com/New-York-Underground-Anatomy-City/dp/0415963109/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223417237&sr=1-1) book, which might be along the lines of what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-childrens-book-nyc-nonfiction/466905/4 "2008-10-08T03:16:39Z")
Sounds like you might be thinking of _[The Works](http://www.amazon.com/Works-Anatomy-City-Kate-Ascher/dp/1594200718)_ by Kate Ascher. It’s one of our favourite coffee table books. Totally engrossing if you’re interested in figuring out exactly what makes a city tick (working on the assumption, of course, that NYC is the archetypal city)… dunno if a kid who’s into maps would necessarily like it, but it’s definitely the sort of thing that most boys would probably take a shine to. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-childrens-book-nyc-nonfiction/466905/5 "2008-10-08T03:42:53Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > The Macauley book also doesn’t resemble “How Things Work” because it’s all amazingly detailed pen-and-ink drawings. I couldn’t see how a book by David Macauley wouldn’t resemble _The Way Things Work_…by David Macauley. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-childrens-book-nyc-nonfiction/466905/6 "2008-10-08T10:17:40Z")
**Underground** comes closest, but I’m not sure any of these is the one I remember.