Most children’s books aim to entertain, teach a lesson, or spark a young reader’s imagination. Gord Reynolds’ “Where Are the Utilities? A Light Rail Transit Project Adventure” does something far less common. It uses a simple story to explain a very real problem that costs cities, taxpayers, and infrastructure projects millions of dollars every year.
At first glance, the book appears straightforward. Patty Progress is tasked with building a new light rail line for her town. Before construction can move forward, however, she discovers a familiar problem: nobody truly knows what lies beneath the ground.
The utility maps are outdated. Records don’t match reality. Water pipes appear where they shouldn’t. Electrical lines cross paths with other infrastructure. Construction crews are forced to stop and reassess. Costs begin to rise, timelines slip, and frustration grows.
While the story is written for younger readers, the challenge at its center is one that infrastructure professionals know all too well.
Reynolds is uniquely qualified to tell this story. Before serving in executive leadership and government roles, he spent years working directly with underground utilities. Throughout his career, he witnessed firsthand how inaccurate records and poor coordination between agencies can derail even the most carefully planned projects. That experience gives the book a level of authenticity rarely found in children’s nonfiction.
What makes “Where Are the Utilities? A Light Rail Transit Project Adventure” particularly effective is its ability to simplify a complicated issue without oversimplifying it. Reynolds avoids overwhelming readers with technical terminology while still explaining the logic behind the solution. Rather than turning the story into a lesson on engineering, he focuses on problem-solving, teamwork, and preparation.
The solution Patty discovers is surprisingly practical. By creating a shared digital model that accurately shows the location of underground infrastructure before construction begins, the project can move forward with fewer surprises and far greater efficiency. In the professional world, this concept is known as advance utility relocation, but the book presents it in a way children can easily understand.
That balance between accessibility and substance is one of the book’s greatest strengths.
The story also operates on two levels. Younger readers will follow Patty’s efforts to solve a problem and complete her project. Adults, meanwhile, may recognize a broader message about planning, accountability, and the hidden costs of poor information.
In many ways, the true antagonist of the book is not a person at all. It is the absence of reliable data.
For readers outside the infrastructure world, that might sound like a surprisingly serious theme for a children’s book. Yet Reynolds makes it engaging by grounding the story in relatable challenges and clear consequences. Every unexpected pipe or missing record becomes part of a larger lesson about why preparation matters.
The timing of the book is also notable. As cities invest billions in transportation, utilities, and public works projects, conversations about digital mapping, asset management, and infrastructure modernization are becoming increasingly important. Technologies such as digital twins and advanced utility mapping are no longer niche concepts. They are rapidly becoming essential tools for successful project delivery.
Reynolds has written extensively about these issues throughout his career, but “Where Are the Utilities? A Light Rail Transit Project Adventure” may be his most accessible contribution yet. By presenting a complex topic through the lens of a children’s story, he opens the conversation to a much wider audience.
Ultimately, “Where Are the Utilities? A Light Rail Transit Project Adventure” succeeds because it respects its readers. It trusts children to engage with meaningful ideas and invites adults to think more carefully about the systems that shape everyday life.
It is a quick read but leaves a lasting impression. Young readers will enjoy Patty Progress’s determination to solve a difficult problem. Adults may come away reflecting on how often major projects fail for reasons that could have been avoided from the start.
That combination makes “Where Are the Utilities? A Light Rail Transit Project Adventure” more than just a children’s book. It is a thoughtful reminder that sometimes the most expensive problems begin with something as simple as not knowing what’s beneath your feet.
