Seasons in the City; Megan McKean

I was so excited when this book arrived at my door last week and I had a battle on my hands to read it first. When my wife saw it, her first words were, “I like the look of that book,” her eyes drawn to the delightful front cover. We love to travel and Megan McKean’s new non-fiction book is packed full of fabulous places to visit throughout the year.

As the seasons come and go they bring change around the world and transform cities in wonderful ways. Mild spring weather bring flowers to life as tulips blossom in Amsterdam and spectacular cherry blossoms appear in Tokyo. Hot summer sun is the perfect weather for a BBQ in Sydney or partying on the beaches of Rio. Cooler autumn temperatures mark the first signs of fall in Montreal as maple leaves flutter to the ground and in Reykjavik it is time to gather the plentiful harvest. Whilst some hide away from the cold winter weather others flock to Queenstown to hit the ski slopes and Cape Town is the perfect place for whale watching. Whatever the season and whatever the weather, there is always something special going on somewhere in the world. So pack your suitcase, grab your passport and get ready for departure…

Beautifully presented as a hardback, Seasons in the City is a fabulous journey to twenty-four different cities in all corners of the world. Starting in spring and ending in winter, cities are equally spread across the four seasons with six profiled in each. It is a fantastic journey and McKean has clearly spent time researching what makes each of the cities ‘special’ throughout the year. Her passion for travel shines through and it is evident that a lot of time and love has gone into the book. Any reader who picks it up, young or old, will be richly rewarded.

Each city is presented over a double page spread featuring informative text and a vibrant and colourful scene that captures the essence of the season in the city. I found myself wanting to step into each scene desperate to sit in one of Cairo’s parks amongst oleander bushes and acacia trees, munch on a big bag of fresh fruit-salad from one of the street vendors in Los Angeles, join in the celebrations at the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong and wander around the Christmas market in Zurich.

In a world where travel is currently very challenging, it was an absolute delight to step into a book that showcases the cities around the world and some of the special experiences they offer. Seasons in the City is a wonderful celebration of many fantastic places and it is sure to inspire a desire to travel and see these sights in person. I have circled plenty of new places to visit on my map and I’m sure that young globetrotters will be doing the same.

With huge thanks to Hachette Kids and Lothian for this fabulous non-fiction book.

Recommended for 6+.