JUNIOR EDITION for Ages 6+
Cities: From Swamp to Superpower · Book 1

Venice: Mud, Salt and a Fortune

Why would anyone build a city in the middle of the water?

In this book, you will find out…

When you grow up, you could…

Who is in the story

AgastyaAgastyaNotices things. Tests his guesses. Has until Sunday.
CharlieCharlieAsks one good question — then lets Agastya find out.
WarrenWarrenTurns up late. Thinks about a hundred years from now.

Today’s mystery

Why would anyone build a city in the middle of the water?

Look for the clues. Try to guess the answer before Agastya does!

Chapter 1

The City With No Roads

🔍 Where did all the cars go?
Agastya stepped out of the station. The street just stopped. In water!
Agastya stepped out of the station. The street just stopped. In water!
AgastyaWhere do the cars go?
The bus came on time. But it came by water!
The bus came on time. But it came by water!
Even the ambulance was a boat.
Even the ambulance was a boat.
Agastya had a quick guess.
Agastya had a quick guess.
AgastyaIt's a museum! They took the roads out.
CharlieA museum with rubbish trucks?
He looked. A rubbish boat was right there, working.
He looked. A rubbish boat was right there, working.
So Agastya asked a fish seller.
So Agastya asked a fish seller.
AgastyaDo people really live here?
Fish sellerMy family has, for 300 years!
He wanted to be sure. He sat and counted boats. Milk. Post. Cement. A piano!
He wanted to be sure. He sat and counted boats. Milk. Post. Cement. A piano!
AgastyaA museum doesn't need cement.
Agastya’s notebook
Not a museum. The water IS the road.
From high up, he saw it. The city sat alone, far out in the sea.
From high up, he saw it. The city sat alone, far out in the sea.
His boat home left on Sunday. He wrote one question in his notebook.
His boat home left on Sunday. He wrote one question in his notebook.
AgastyaWhy here? I'll find out by Sunday.
Chapter 2

Too Shallow

🔍 Is Venice a harbour for big ships?
Charlie asked just one thing.
Charlie asked just one thing.
CharlieWhy this spot? Why not on the land?
Agastya was sure.
Agastya was sure.
AgastyaEasy! Big ships can come here.
Next morning, he went to check. The tide was out. The sea had turned to mud!
Next morning, he went to check. The tide was out. The sea had turned to mud!
The water only reached his ankles. Boats got stuck.
The water only reached his ankles. Boats got stuck.
A big ship could use only one narrow path.
A big ship could use only one narrow path.
Wooden posts showed the path. Miss it, and your boat stops.
Wooden posts showed the path. Miss it, and your boat stops.
Agastya crossed out his own answer.
Agastya crossed out his own answer.
AgastyaToo shallow for a harbour. It's HARD to reach!
He looked at Charlie. Charlie only smiled. He said nothing.
He looked at Charlie. Charlie only smiled. He said nothing.
AgastyaAm I getting close?
🔎 Clue found!
The water is too shallow for big ships. Venice is hard to reach.
Shallow water all around. Like a wall you cannot see. But who would WANT that?
Shallow water all around. Like a wall you cannot see. But who would WANT that?
Chapter 3

The Old Book

🔍 Who would want a place that is hard to reach?
Agastya had a guess. He went to find an old history book.
Agastya had a guess. He went to find an old history book.
AgastyaI bet people came here to hide.
Long ago, people lived in towns on the land nearby.
Long ago, people lived in towns on the land nearby.
Roads brought shoppers. But roads also brought armies.
Roads brought shoppers. But roads also brought armies.
So families ran away to the little islands.
So families ran away to the little islands.
They used flat boats. Nobody could chase them in the shallow water.
They used flat boats. Nobody could chase them in the shallow water.
The first Venice was just a hut on a mud bank. His guess was right!
The first Venice was just a hut on a mud bank. His guess was right!
Agastya’s notebook
Shallow water = a wall. It kept people safe.
On a map he saw many islands. All safe. Only ONE became Venice. Why?
On a map he saw many islands. All safe. Only ONE became Venice. Why?
Chapter 4

Two Islands

🔍 Why did only one island grow into a city?
Agastya chose another island to visit: Torcello. A giant old church stood alone in a field.
Agastya chose another island to visit: Torcello. A giant old church stood alone in a field.
Hardly anyone lived there now.
Hardly anyone lived there now.
AgastyaThis island was safe too. So where did everyone go?
The canal was full of reeds. Boats could not get in any more.
The canal was full of reeds. Boats could not get in any more.
Agastya made a plan.
Agastya made a plan.
AgastyaI'll measure the water. Here, and in Venice.
He pushed a long stick into the water. At Torcello, it hit mud fast.
He pushed a long stick into the water. At Torcello, it hit mud fast.
In Venice, the stick went down and down. Just as he thought!
In Venice, the stick went down and down. Just as he thought!
AgastyaDeep here. Shallow there!
A deep path ran right through the middle of Venice. Its own boats could get in.
A deep path ran right through the middle of Venice. Its own boats could get in.
Long ago, enemy ships came. The tide went out. They got stuck in the mud!
Long ago, enemy ships came. The tide went out. They got stuck in the mud!
Agastya’s notebook
Venice had both. A deep path for friends. Shallow mud for enemies.
But under all these stone houses was mud. How do they not sink?
But under all these stone houses was mud. How do they not sink?
Chapter 5

The Forest Under the City

🔍 How can stone houses stand on soft mud?
Agastya stepped on the mud by the water. It swallowed his shoe!
Agastya stepped on the mud by the water. It swallowed his shoe!
He looked at the heavy walls.
He looked at the heavy walls.
AgastyaSo what is holding them up?
He found a picture of what is under the city. Tree trunks! Millions of them.
He found a picture of what is under the city. Tree trunks! Millions of them.
Workers banged them into the mud, one by one. For hundreds of years.
Workers banged them into the mud, one by one. For hundreds of years.
Mud. Tree trunks. Wood beams. Stone. Then the house on top.
Mud. Tree trunks. Wood beams. Stone. Then the house on top.
Wood under water does not rot. Some trunks are 600 years old!
Wood under water does not rot. Some trunks are 600 years old!
Agastya did a sum.
Agastya did a sum.
AgastyaA million trees under one church!
CharlieSomebody had to grow them, too.
🔎 Clue found!
There was no land. The people MADE their own ground.
All that walking made Agastya thirsty. But the sea is salty. What did people drink?
All that walking made Agastya thirsty. But the sea is salty. What did people drink?
Chapter 6

Rain Under the Square

🔍 Where do you get drinking water in a salty sea?
In almost every square stood a stone well.
In almost every square stood a stone well.
Agastya spotted little stone holes in the corners.
Agastya spotted little stone holes in the corners.
AgastyaHoles for rain! I bet they catch rain.
He was right! Under the square was a big tank full of sand.
He was right! Under the square was a big tank full of sand.
Rain ran in. The sand cleaned it. Then it filled the well.
Rain ran in. The sand cleaned it. Then it filled the well.
For 600 years, people came with buckets every day.
For 600 years, people came with buckets every day.
Agastya felt the ground with his hand.
Agastya felt the ground with his hand.
AgastyaThe whole square slopes, so the rain runs in!
CharlieSomebody planned that.
Agastya’s notebook
Every square is a giant rain catcher.
Now people could live here. But how did they get RICH?
Now people could live here. But how did they get RICH?
Chapter 7

White Gold

🔍 How did a muddy place get rich?
On a boat ride, Agastya saw flat ponds by the water. Some were white.
On a boat ride, Agastya saw flat ponds by the water. Some were white.
A worker was raking. The sun dries the sea water. Salt is left behind!
A worker was raking. The sun dries the sea water. Salt is left behind!
Long ago, there were no fridges. Salt kept food from going bad.
Long ago, there were no fridges. Salt kept food from going bad.
Boats took salt up the rivers to towns far away.
Boats took salt up the rivers to towns far away.
Agastya worked it out by himself. Charlie just nodded.
Agastya worked it out by himself. Charlie just nodded.
AgastyaBad land for farms. Perfect for salt!
Then Agastya found a giant old map. He wanted to see where the boats went.
Then Agastya found a giant old map. He wanted to see where the boats went.
Behind Venice, long rivers ran far into the land. Rivers are easy roads.
Behind Venice, long rivers ran far into the land. Rivers are easy roads.
Big ships brought spices from far away. Pepper and cinnamon!
Big ships brought spices from far away. Pepper and cinnamon!
At Venice, goods moved from big ships to river boats.
At Venice, goods moved from big ships to river boats.
So shops and storehouses grew right here.
So shops and storehouses grew right here.
🔎 Clue found!
Venice sat where goods changed boats. Everyone passed through.
Venice got rich. It built ships. Lots and lots of ships.
Venice got rich. It built ships. Lots and lots of ships.
Saturday night. One day left. Which clue was THE answer?
Saturday night. One day left. Which clue was THE answer?
Chapter 8

Sunday

🔍 So — why here?
Sunday morning, the sea came right into the square!
Sunday morning, the sea came right into the square!
People walked to work on wooden planks. Nobody looked surprised.
People walked to work on wooden planks. Nobody looked surprised.
Out at sea, giant gates can rise to keep high tides out.
Out at sea, giant gates can rise to keep high tides out.
Charlie asked one last time.
Charlie asked one last time.
CharlieSo which clue is the answer?
AgastyaSafe water. Made ground. Rain wells. Salt. Ships.
Agastya stopped.
Agastya stopped.
AgastyaNone of them alone. Torcello was safe too, and it emptied.
CharlieGood. You connected the pieces.
At the boat stop, Warren was waiting.
At the boat stop, Warren was waiting.
WarrenWill Venice still be here in 100 years?
Agastya thought of the gates, the wells and the tree trunks.
Agastya thought of the gates, the wells and the tree trunks.
AgastyaOnly if people keep fixing it.
On the boat home, he read his notebook. Then he looked at his own city.
On the boat home, he read his notebook. Then he looked at his own city.
AgastyaWhy is MY city here?

All the clues

  1. The water is too shallow for big ships. Venice is hard to reach.
  2. There was no land. The people MADE their own ground.
  3. Venice sat where goods changed boats. Everyone passed through.

So… Why would anyone build a city in the middle of the water?

The shallow water kept people safe. A deep path let their own boats in. Then they made ground, caught rain, sold salt and moved goods — and they still keep fixing it.

OmahaIndia Junior · a simpler version of Book 1 for readers aged 6-8