In 1937, Lawrence M. Orton wrote that city planning is not only for adults; ensuring children's understanding of the goals of city planning, he wrote, is the only way to ensure that they grow up to have a healthy, happy city. Orton's words can be found in the foreword to The ABC of City Planning, a children's book produced by New York City Mayor LaGuardia's Committee on City Planning to instill an appreciation in children for city planning. To that end, the book presents an alphabet of city planning — 26 terms, with accompanying text and illustrations ("J — is for Jumble caused only by man, who recklessly built without a good plan").

Although the charming illustrations and text alone make this book worth reading, it also has historical value. It provides a unique look at the New York City of 1937, particularly in regards to public transit. Both the E stanza ("E — is for Elevated that must be torn down. The nuisance it creates isn't good for our town.") and the T stanza ( "T — is for Transit, a system of travel. The mix-up we have we now must unravel.") reveal that transit planning was in a state of upheaval at the time. The Elevated referred to in the E stanza was later replaced by underground subways.

Although modern audiences, particularly children, might find the book outdated, its catchy stanzas provide an enjoyable look at planning through the eyes of planners from another era.