Sure, Milwaukee isn't London or Paris when it comes to being the subject of books, but there has been a fair bit of ink spilled over Brew City. But none of it has quite captured the city as well as one new volume.

"Milwaukee Sketchbook," with text and captions by Fran Bauer and paintings of local landmarks -- familiar and not-so -- by students at Milwaukee School of Art and Design, gets a lot of yay votes from me.

First of all -- fellow booksmellers will be able to relate, and I KNOW I'm not alone -- it smells fabulous. There's just something about a great-smelling book that makes it a joy to be around. A quick, informal poll in the OnMilwaukee.com editorial office was unanimous, "Milwaukee Sketchbook" has the same scent as the Scholastic books we ordered in grade school.

More importantly, perhaps, are the paintings, all of which are evocative and richly-hued and dig deep into Milwaukee. Sure, there's the Hoan and the Domes, but there's also the amazing WPA water garden at the Boerner Botanical Gardens and there's one of Wright's American System-built houses on Burnham and the Pagoda gas station on 76th Street in West Allis.

Better than a humdrum photographic tour of Milwaukee -- which might please departing visitors -- "Milwaukee Sketchbook" is perfect for Milwaukeeans for whom these treasures are out of time. We don't need clinical, tell-all photographs to remember the details as these often dreamy, sometimes expressionistic paintings transport us around our town, and remind us of the Cream City's quotidian beauty.

Schwartz Bookshop at 2559 N. Downer Ave. will host a book signing -- at which some of the artists will also present their work -- Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

The hardcover book retails for $39.95.

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