The Inside-Outside Book of London by Roxie Munro
The Inside-Outside Book of London
by Roxie Munro
(Universe Publishing; $14.95, Ages 4 and up)
With the publication of this new edition of The Inside-Outside Book of London first published 25 years ago, you may recognize the work of artist Roxie Munro whose illustrations have graced more than a dozen New Yorker magazine covers and filled numerous children’s books. And for those of you who regularly follow this blog, you’ll know I’m quite partial to all things English having lived in London over 6 1/2 years. In fact my son was born there. This summer we’ll be crossing the pond for the first time in nine years and I can’t wait. Thanks to Munro’s wonderfully realized love letter to London in the form of detailed exterior and interior illustrations, I know everything I want to return to once again, this time with a teenage son in tow who barely remembers all the landmarks of his early years.
Whether you’re an Anglophile hankering for a taste of London with its abundance of amazing architecture, or someone eager to simply see this capital city’s highlights from the comfort of your couch, this picture book is for you. Share the sights of the former Londinium with your kids. They’ll be impressed with its rich history found in every corner of town.
A city full of bridges spanning the width of the winding Thames river, London comes alive in the 40 pages of The Inside-Outside Book of London as we tour Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral. There are stops at the British Museum (one of my faves) with the famed mummy collection dating back thousands of years plus a peek inside Waterloo Station, the original home to the Eurostar International rail service now located at St. Pancras. It’s great that we get to go inside all the buildings because so frequently a visitor’s impression comes merely from the exterior. Although I must admit, there is nothing more fun than a first glimpse of London from atop a bright red double decker bus so I’m quite glad Munro’s included this in our virtual vacation.
Of course for many, no trip to London is complete without shopping. So continue your journey on the bus to ride down the distinctly curved Regent Street, perhaps making a stop at Hamley’s toy store, and other well-known shops like Burberry’s before arriving at Trafalgar Square. Later, in the City, actually the oldest part of London, climb upstairs to the Whispering Gallery of St. Paul’s Cathedral, built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1666, and see if the rest of the family can hear what you whisper from the other side, “112 feet away.”
If you’ve enjoyed this visit as much as I’ve loved sharing it, you and your family will delight in the pleasures Munro’s illustrations convey. From Big Ben in Westminster all the way to Tower Bridge, the best places to see when traveling to London, are at your fingertips to behold.
-Reviewed by Ronna Mandel