City Under the City

By Dan Yaccarino

In a screen-obsessed city, a girl discovers a hidden world of books and freedom.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 296 ratings

68 pages· 639 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In a city dominated by screens and watchful Eyes, young Bix yearns for independence. Fleeing an Eye, she stumbles upon the City Under the City, where a rat guides her to a forgotten library. As Bix uncovers stories of a world without Eyes, she faces a choice: stay in this newfound freedom or return to her family and challenge the Eyes' control. Can Bix inspire her city to rediscover the joy of reading and connection? Embark on a journey of discovery, friendship, and the power of books in this captivating tale.

From the publisher

From acclaimed author-illustrator Dan Yaccarino comes an exhilarating adventure–set in a richly imagined alternate future–celebrating autonomy, community, and the power of reading, perfect for fans of The Rock From the Sky. Bix lives with her family in a city where people rarely talk or play together, and no longer read books. Instead, they stare at small portable screens, monitored by giant eyeballs. The Eyes are here to help! With everything. But Bix would like to do things for herself. Running from an Eye, she discovers another world: the City Under the City. There, she befriends a rat who leads her to a library and its treasure trove of books and knowledge. As she explores the abandoned city, she’s thrilled to learn about the people who lived there, with no Eyes. But she misses her family, and decides to head home, where, just maybe, she can help defeat the intrusive Eyes–and show her people how to think for themselves and enjoy each other’s company. Told through Dan Yaccarino’s stunning graphic style, this page-turning picture book/early reader crossover will spark a new appreciation of reading, books, independence, friendship, and family.

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