Green Cities

How Green Infrastructure Helps Heal the Planet

By Sheila Boudreau and Katy Dockrill

Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd

Sheila Boudreau is a landscape architect, urban planner and university lecturer specialising in green infrastructure. Katy Dockrill’s previous illustration work includes middle-grade book covers, picture books and even a Jane-Austen-themed search-and-find book. Both creators live in Toronto, Canada.

Green Cities is a 56-page non-fiction book about green infrastructure – which, as defined in the blurb, ‘harnesses the power of nature to make cities both more sustainable and more liveable’. It includes everything from street trees and nature corridors to green roofs and permeable paving. This is an informative and hope-filled book that aims to inspire the next generation to be part of the fight against climate change.

Chapter 1 discusses the ages-old need for cities before moving on to the challenges presented by climate change. Chapter 2 recommends learning from Indigenous Knowledges and defines the building blocks of green infrastructure: water, soil, plants and living creatures. Throughout the book, key terms are defined in colourful breakout boxes, and there are appealing illustrations – in vibrant shades of pink, purple, brown and, of course, lots of green – on each page. There are relevant quotes from thinkers as diverse as Aristotle, Josephine Clarke (a Māori landscape architect) and Jane Goodall.

The third and final (and longest) chapter is the one I found the most interesting. It provides case studies of green infrastructure around the world – such as three rooftop farms in NYC that grow more than 45400 kg of organic vegetables per year and two Milanese high-rises that were transformed into vertical forests containing more than 21000 plants. The conclusion lists some of the professions involved in creating green infrastructure as well as ways readers can help right now – for example, by volunteering at community planting events or becoming a citizen scientist. The back matter includes a glossary and an index.

This quality non-fiction book, recommended for ages 9+, would make a wonderful addition to the home library of children interested in STEM subjects, climate change, environmentalism, etc. (And if they like this one, definitely get them a copy of Ultrawild: An Audacious Plan to Rewild Every City on Earth by Steve Mushin as well!) I can also see it being used in high school geography lessons when covering topics such as urbanisation, food security and sustainability – the case studies, in particular, could provide inspiration for further investigation by students.

Teacher’s Notes

UQP 2026

Sheila Boudreau

Katy Dockrill

Annaleise Byrd is the author of middle grade portal fantasies Losing the Plot and Down the Plot Hole, and the picture book You Are Not a Pup!