Storied Cities

Dog City: Rosa Moves to Town

2012-02-25T14:47:00.001-05:00

I have been dreaming of the day when I would cross paths with a picture book set in Stockholm! I have at last found one, and may even have found a few more -- but will not be certain until my holds come in at the library.

The canine titular character in Barbro Lindgren's Rosa Moves to Town has just moved to the city, which is "not at all like their old home." On her walks Rosa discovers all sorts of interesting dogs, babies, and intriguing discarded item on the pavement. Rosa's interest in small objects is her downfall, however. She ingests part of a dog toy and must undergo surgery at the veterinarian hospital. The surgery is successful

Given that it is set in one of my favorite cities, I can't help but wish this was a better book, although in fairness it is possible something might have been lost in the translation. The story is a bit disjointed but dog lovers and dog owners will probably find something to enjoy. (Full disclosure: I am not a dog lover.) I did like the way the book opened by drawing our attention to a part of the city that people ignore, but is fascinating for dogs: the sidewalk. From Rosa's perspective: the "chewing gum, pebbles, corks and stale hot-dog buns -- now that was fun!"

Eva Eriksson's colored pencil illustrations are appealing and I adore the opening image of Stockholm across the water. Most of the illustrations are closeups of the dogs but there is a nice one of Rosa on a walk in Gamla stan.

If you love dogs or just really, really want a picture book set in Stockholm, you might want to check Rosa Moves to Town out from the library.

Want More?
Playing by the Book has a great round-up of Swedish picture books in English translation.

Green City: Central Park Serenade

2012-02-15T03:00:00.000-05:00

I wonder in how many homes outside of New York City a book like Laura Godwin's Central Park Serenade finds itself? Do libraries in Phoenix or Dallas order a copy for their collections? By now this is a moot point, as the book is out of print. It must still find its way into the hands of many children around NYC, though, since I see the Brooklyn Library has 18 copies, several of which are currently checked out.

But, I babble.

Central Park Serenade is a serene book. Needless to say, it is a survey of the parks many features, from the horse-drawn carriages to the zoo to the sailing of toy boats. Barry Root's sunshine-filled illustrations (they made me want to start singing, "All in a golden afternoon...") follow a boy carrying his boat through the park as he passes many notable sites and activities, some grand, like the zoo, others small, like the ice cream carts. The text And the pigeons coo/And the big dogs bark/And the noises echo through the park is repeated throughout the rhyming text. There is a focus on the people and sounds of the park, rather than the inanimate sights: parents, drummers, baseball players, etc., which I appreciated -- after all the city park is what it is because of the people who bring it to life.

The end pages contain a map of the park. Maps are always a big hit with my boys. There are also many pictures with buses and taxis, also an important feature for my little guys. Personally, I was immediately struck by the fact that the protagonist of the narrative lives in an apartment in which his bedroom overlooks Central Park. That is some serious real estate. I wonder how many other New York parents notice the real estate in picture books. My own sons are still blissfully aware that their own view is not exactly going to bring in the big money.

I hope Central Park Serenade finds an audience outside of New York City as many of the experiences depicted are not limited to Central Park. Plus, I imagine kids in the country would enjoy seeing what a city park is like.

Want More?
Try the picture book The Pirate in Central Park.
Early Chapter Books about Pee-Wee and his squirrel friends having adventures in Central Park are quite delightful. I reviewed the series here.
Read a book about Pale Male in Central Park. I reviewed three of them.

Little Kid says: Read the bus page, again.

Pediferous City: Betty Lou Blue

2012-02-12T05:35:00.000-05:00

Before I go any further, I must confess that I recently found several typos in recent posts in which I accidentally used "your" instead of "you're". This is so embarrassing! So if you noticed that error and said to yourself, "I can't believe she did that. Tsk, tsk, tsk," rest assured I do know the difference between "your" and "you're." Sometimes when typing we all make mistakes, but that does not diminish my embarrassment! Argh! I hope I have corrected them all now, but if you ever see such an error, by all means, point it out to me!

Betty Lou Blue has gigantic feet and although her mother assures her that beauty comes from within, it's hard to get past the teasing she must endure from bullies like Jimmy Jack Jones. One day, during a sudden snow storm, Betty Lou must decide whether or not to use the power of her snowshoe-like feet for good or leave her tormentors to their fate. This is a children's book so you can guess her choice.

I'm not a very good judge of poetry, but Nancy Crocker's rhyming text seems adequate. However, it is Boris Kulikov's vibrant and appealing illustrations which make checking out this book worthwhile. There is something so magical about watching the snow fall over the city -- everything looks instantly clean and fresh. The kids in this book do what all city kids do as soon as the snow starts to come down: they head to the park. There isn't anything in the text that necessarily sets the story in the city, but the choice to do so works very well. The image of Betty Lou gazing out the upper story window at the swiftly falling snow collecting on rooftops and window grates is one every city dweller can relate to.

I thought Betty Lou Blue conveyed a useful message in an imaginative way and if your library has it on the shelves, it would be a cozy winter read. Not that NYC is experiencing winter this year, we just skipped right to an endless early spring.

Want More?
Read an interview with the author at Seven Impossible Things.
Visit the illustrator's website or the author's website.
Read a review with some of the poetry at Big A little a.
I also enjoyed the Kulikov-illustrated book, The Castle on Hester Street.

Little Kid says: They are stuck in the snow.

Subway City: Friday's Journey

2012-02-11T03:00:00.000-05:00

My kids have some sort of superhuman radar when it comes to locating books about trains. One of the books they insisted on bringing home from the library a while back was Friday's Journey. It just happened to be set in the city, too.

In Ken Rush's Friday's Journey, Chris' parents are divorced and his dad has come to pick him up for their Friday journey, which is a subway ride to Dad's place, where he spends the weekend. During the train ride, Chris imagines the places the train could take him: places he used to go with both his parents. In the end, he realizes he can still enjoy those places just with Dad.

The story fell a little short for me, but I imagine it has a place among the targeted audience. However, there are a number of specific subway experiences that my young listeners grabbed on to, which is why I'm including a review on this blog. For example: the distant lights of the subway in the tunnel, the experience of watching the tracks out the front window, the screeching noise of the train stopping in the station. The city is obviously New York City, but it is never mentioned by name and because of the book's theme of living with divorced parents this book will find an audience outside the local one.

Want More?
My favorite book about a dad and his sons riding the subway is the ingenious Subway by Christopher Niemann.

Little Kid says: Where is that train going?

Imaginary City: Cookiebot!

2012-02-07T02:00:00.000-05:00

In Katie Van Camp's CookieBot!: A Harry and Horsie Adventure a not-so innocent attempt to sneak a cookie from the cookie jar unleashes the fearsome, gigantic, uncontrollable cookie-loving robot, CookieBot! With CookieBot out of control and heading toward the Empire Sweets Cafe, Harry's only hope is his best friend and soft, cuddly companion, Horsie. Will they save the city? Will they get a glass of milk? Read and find out!

The story does not reveal if Harry and Horsie's real life home is in the city, but that information is really not very important. Although there are nods to New York City, the city in CookieBot! is pure imagination. After all, any good futuristic science fiction tale with an over sized villain takes place in the city, right? Think Godzilla! Think... okay, I can't think of any more, but my point is that in our popular imagination, giant robots do not crash through the woods or the flower garden. They terrorize innocent urban populations who run down streets flanked by skyscrapers!

How can one not enjoy the ultra-cool modern retro style of Lincoln Agnew's illustrations? The restrained yet bold color palette in no way feels limiting, instead reminding one of awesome B movies, pop art and old school comic books. The city, though a result of a young boy's imagination, is rich with details like scrolled iron work, mish-mashed bricks and flashing light bulbs. The humorous text on the street signs and billboards adds further dimension to the story.

CookieBot!: A Harry and Horsie Adventure is so much fun. It's a great read aloud for parents like me who love to ham it up and great for kids like mine who are into mayhem. Enjoy!

Want More?
Read the first adventure, Harry and Horsie (in which we see, yes, Harry lives in the city).
Visit the author's website.
Visit the illustrator's website.
This book reminded me of another retro-robot-in-the-city (I smell a new picture book genre in the making!) book I reviewed: Oh No!
Watch the trailer.
Big Kid says: Awesome! Little Kid says: Read it, again! Again!

Panel City: Shouting Out About Books!

2012-02-05T11:23:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had the very great pleasure of being on a panel at the New York Public Library in which the discussion centered on the different ways book professionals (authors, illustrators, librarians, booksellers, etc.) communicate about books.

"Hold it right there!" you are thinking, "Why were you included in panel of book professionals?"

Okay, you got me. It's true that in no way do I consider myself a book professional. I was there as the "parent blogger" representative. And as a parent blogger, I communicate to others -- presumably other parents -- about books.

I enjoyed the experience and as usually happens when book lovers gather to discuss books, there was not enough time to discuss... um, well... books. One of the topics which fell victim to the clock was how exactly parent bloggers tell the public about books.

Fortunately I have a blog where I can engage in the very self-indulgent act of talking about whatever I wish (fortunately you are able, at this point, to click away from this site if I'm too boring). So here's a few thoughts I had rolling around in my head:

1. One of the terms that kept getting tossed around was that that book professionals are "gatekeepers." While I agree that this is true for librarians and others, I don't consider myself, as a parent blogger, a gatekeeper to the world of books. When trying to decided on a catchy phrase that would describe how I feel about the parent blogger position, I decided I liked the term, "signpost."

I'm imagining one of those large hands with the pointer finger like this:

Or maybe a signpost that leads you different ways, when I write posts about different kinds of books (just to confuse you):

A signpost points you in a specific direction(s), but you, as the traveler can choose to go one way or another: pick up one book or another. Unlike a gatekeeper, I don't decided which books are available for you to choose (e.g. at the library or in a bookstore).

2. I don't write, what I consider to be reviews, on my parent blog. Over here at Storied Cities, that's another matter, but on my parent blog when I recommend a book a write a soundbite for it. This is for a several reasons: a) because I don't really want to write lengthy reviews covering plot points and other details; b) others have already written reviews, which are easy to find if someone wants more info on a particular book (ah, the magic of Google); c) checking out a book from the library is risk-free. I don't encourage people to spend $20 on a book they haven't read yet, good review or not; d) parents coming to my blog are not (for the most part) coming specifically for book recommendations (more on this in Point 3); and finally e) surfers of the internet and many parents with small children about to spill a cup of milk all over the new couch like brevity (a description which does not apply to this post!).

3.) Even though parents are not generally coming to my parent blog for book recommendations, parent blogs are an important way of communicating about books and here's why:

Parents (as opposed to children) are the ones who check out and buy picture books, early readers and - to a certain extent - middle grade fiction. I don't pretend to know anything about the publishing industry, but I imagine it is the parents' wallets that put kids books on best sellers list. If I'm wrong, please tell me in the comment section, I love to be corrected and learn new things!
Parents who come to a blog such as mine are coming for things to do with their kids. My site traffic tells me that my Indoor and Educational Activities are what bring readers to my blog, yet guess what? My book posts are the most commented upon (on?) posts! My recent post, How to Find Good Children's Books has quickly become one of my most popular posts, receiving more hits in a week than some posts receive in a year! I am incredibly flattered that so many readers referred to the post on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. All of this means:
Parents are interested in finding books other than Dr. Seuss, Goodnight Moon, etc. but they don't necessarily go to book blogs to do so. Book blogs aren't necessarily read by a large parent audience (this is a generalization, obviously there are parents, like me. who read blogs dedicated to books), but blogs about a variety of parent-related issues are aimed solely at the children's book buyer: PARENTS.

So the main message is that book pros can communicate to parents (the gatekeepers for children!) through venues not entirely dedicated to books. Libraries, schools and bookstores will always remain the most important ways to find books, but don't forget that talking about books for children can also be done alongside talk about homemade catapults, math games and getting the kids to eat a healthful breakfast!

I would love to hear more from you about this! Do you think parent blogs or other blogs written my non-book professionals have a place in the book conversation? Maybe since I'm not trained in book reviews I should stick to sippy cups? How can librarian, schools, author/illustrators and bookstores work with bloggers to promote books?

Please add to the conversation in the comments section of this post.

Pigeon City: Cuckoo Feathers

2012-01-19T05:16:00.001-05:00

A few months ago I hand wrote a review for Cuckoo Feathers, and then I lost it. Argh. So I have been putting off this post in the hopes I might just come across my notes. Sadly, the time has come for me to give up my search and consequently the review that follows might not be quite as thorough as my original.

Phylis Reynolds Naylor's Cuckoo Feathers is a story that could only take place in the city. It's Chicago this time. When we meet Sarah she is bored with white: white food and the the color of her skin. She wants to be an interesting color like her friend, Peter. Sarah's mom is an artist and comes up with a clever way of showing Sarah and Peter that their respective skin colors are much more that just "white" and "brown." While the friends are painting, a few pigeons show up. Sarah and her friends come to think of the pigeons as theirs and so when the pigeons decides to roost in a neighboring windowsill, a bit of jealousy ensues. When a third, aggressive pigeon shows up, Sarah, her old and new friends work together to find a solution.

Families who live in apartment buildings will recognize the form of community portrayed in this book: friends can watch each other across air shafts and fire escapes, neighbors can hear each other in the hallways, diversity is the norm. It is also nice to have a story about watching animal life which does not take place in the park (or the country). Marcy Ramsey's line drawn illustrations are a nice addition.

Cuckoo Feathers is an entertaining book and the story reads smoothly. It is part of a series of books about Sarah, called "Simply Sarah." It makes a nice read aloud, or an early chapter book for young readers. Extra sensitive children may be a little upset at a certain egg dropping scene, but I think Naylor handles the situation well.

Want More?
Read a general review of Simply Sarah at A Year of Reading.
Try the other Simply Sarah books: Anyone Can Eat Squid!, Patches and Scratches, and Eating Enchiladas.
Read an interview with the author.

Big Kid says: Don't take that one back to the library.

Shy City: The Boys

2012-01-17T05:49:00.003-05:00

Even though there is nary a female in Jeff Newman's wordless picture book, The Boys, as a relatively shy individual, boy could I could relate to the experience of the protagonist.

A boy moves the the city, finds himself too shy to join in the kids' ballgame and so instead tries to fit in with the older crowd -- the much older crowd. Fortunately, this gang, although older, is also wiser and helps lead the boy back to kids his own age.

The city here remains in the background and it's easy to forget about it. It also has a rather industrial feel. The city park is the important location -- where groups of individuals gather to engage in common like-minded activities. Newman frequently uses the image of the park bench to convey either loneliness or togetherness at just the right moment. After all, nothing says city park like a long green bench.

When this book came out it received a lot of buzz so check out the Want More? section below for some thorough reviews -- and then check it out from your library.

Want More?
Read Fuse #8's review. She'll tell you a lot more about the book than I did.
Read an interview with the author and see more illustrations at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.
Visit the author's picture blog.

Big Kid says: Why is he hanging out with the grandpas?
Little Kid says: They are playing baseball!

Double City: Mirror

2012-01-15T05:58:00.002-05:00

I had meant to post more regularly during the comment challenge but first my internet, and then my computer died. But now, I am back in business and shall do my best to keep up.

It's tempting to place Jeannie Baker's Mirror into the familiar category of "country v. city" book. However, it is much more than that. First of all, there is no annoying message that "my home is best" and secondly, there are no mice.

Baker illustrates two parallel worlds: urban Sydney Australia and rural Morocco's Valley of the Roses. She cleverly structures the book to open from the center so that we may see these worlds simultaneously. I like how this format is a means of uniting separate worlds. I could insert a lot of philosophy mumbo-jumbo here about the coming together of cultures, understanding differences, one planet=one people, etc., etc., but you get the idea.

Side by side: urban on left, rural on the right, we follow the two families through a day of, viewing the differences between commutes, market places, and meals. The purchase of a rug unites them as does the twist at the end in which the supposedly high-tech urban society gathers around a low-tech map and the supposedly low tech family enjoys connecting to the world through the Internet.

I think this is a brilliant book and Baker's cut paper 3-dimensional collages are as outstanding here as they were in Home. This is a wordless book and you need to take some time to pour over and study the details in each double page spread, comparing and contrasting the ways of life. In the end note, Baker reveals some of her collage-making secrets -- she has a lot of patience!

Highly Recommended.

Want More?
Read my review for her book, Home.
Visit the author's website.
Read about the book in the NY Times.

Big Kid says: I like the ending.
Little Kid says: I see lots of buses.

Furry City: Brown Rabbit In The City

2012-01-08T15:42:00.001-05:00

Last January I reviewed Scottish author Natalie Russell's appealing Moon Rabbit about a city rabbit who befriends a country rabbit. In Brown Rabbit in the City it is country rabbit's turn to leave home.
Brown Rabbit hops on a bus to visit his friend, Little Rabbit, in the Big City. Little Rabbit is so excited that she whisks her friend off on a whirlwind tour of all the city has to offer: cafes, art galleries, shopping, night clubs! She fails to notice, however, that all this hustle and bustle has tired her friend out. When Brown Rabbit goes off by himself Little Rabbit realizes that it is her he came to visit, not the city sights. She takes Brown Rabbit to a city park and the two friends bond once again over a guitar and some free-spirited dancing.

Like Moon Rabbit, Brown Rabbit in the City is a visually appealing book. The earthly palette is similar to the first book but with some bolder colors thrown in -- I assume because the city is a bold place to be! The story and message about realizing the value of friendship is right on target without being sappy and both my kids really enjoyed it -- my three year old, especially.

However, I must admit that I am a little disappointed that the excitement of city life had to be thrown under the bus for the sake of this message. Russell's text effectively conveys the anxiety of Brown Rabbit as he is dragged from one experience to another: "Up a tall building (Smile at the camera!)/Down a crowded street (Watch your step!)/ Around an art gallery (No! Don't Touch!)/ And underground to catch a train (Here it comes!)." Of course, it's Little Rabbit who is at fault and not the City itself, per se, and in the end "the two rabbits strolled slowly through the city .. into a quiet beautiful garden" but I would have loved it if Russell had found a way for Little Rabbit to share all the joys of the city with Brown Rabbit, not just the ones that were similar to his country home.

I realize I am nitpicking and I still highly recommend Brown Rabbit in the City: it's beautiful to look at and the story of friendship is charming. I'm hoping to see more of Natalie Russell's work in the future.

Want More?
Visit the author's website.
Read a nice, concise review at Waking Brain Cells.

Snowy City: The Big Storm

2012-01-05T06:08:00.000-05:00

Another book about a cat in the snow!

Rhea Tregebov's The Big Storm is set in 1930s Winnipeg (at least that is the city I came up with when I used Google Maps to track down the named streets and locations). Jeanette's family live above their delicatessen, where everyone has their job to fill and Kitty Doyle's is to be the best mouser on Selkirk Avenue. The family cat also walks Jeanette to and from school but one day, instead of meeting Kitty Doyle for the walk home, Jeanette runs off with her friend, Polly. Polly's mother makes the most delicious latkes and they are not to be missed. Unfortunately, a big storm has come and Jeanette realizes that she has left her best feline friend waiting in the snow. Not to worry, all turns out well: girl and cat are reunited.

This is a nice little book and a good choice if you like books about pets or cats. I had a hard time getting over a muddled plot point however: Jeanette tells Kitty Doyle not to wait for her after school because of the snow, but suddenly she thinks otherwise? It bugged me, but my kids did not notice at all. I have a bit of a weakness, however, for snow covered cityscapes and Maryann Kovalski's illustrations provide plenty of those, along with some delightful cloche hats.

This book has been out of print for some time, but if you're lucky, your library might just have a copy. Read it with your cat, purring on your lap.

Want More?
Visit the author's website.
Visit the illustrator's website (she also illustrated Rivka's First Thanksgiving, which I reviewed here).

Big Kid says: We really need some snow.
Little Kid says: Cat book! Cat book!

Cat City: Snow in Jerusalem

2012-01-03T05:45:00.000-05:00

I was not as industrious about posting in December as I had planned to be. I actually returned several holiday books without posting about them (next year!) and this review was meant for last month, too.

If you are looking for a feel-good-people-can-get-along-if-they-just-act-like-children-book Deborah de Costa's Snow in Jerusalem might just be your ticket. The newspaper of our local food coop has been filled with the incessant bickering for and against the BDS movement and I feel like sending them all a copy of this book. I don't mean to seem like I am trivializing important issues, but -- as the saying goes -- we could learn a lot from children.

A Jewish boy, Avi, and a Muslim boy, Hamudi, discover that they are each caring for the same cat. At first they fight over who is the rightful owner. However, when the cat becomes lost in a snowstorm, they overcome their differences to help the poor creature. When they find the cat (and her new kittens) the bickering starts up anew until the boys realize that the cat wants them to make peace and Avi and Hamudi determine that they will be able to share the cat and her kittens.

It's easier to have a neat and tidy in a book than in real life, but Snow in Jerusalem is not a bad book, especially considering that 5 year olds do not need to be weighted down with heavy-handed worldly problems. And, of course, I do love cats.

Conveniently, for our education about Jerusalem, the cat runs through all the city quarters: Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian. What's missing in Cornelius Van Wright & Ying-Hwa Hu's illustrations is a distance shot of the city. All the views are up close. While this makes sense -- after all this is a story of how personal relationship can made a difference -- it would have been nice to place the action in a larger context.

If you're looking for books that discuss value of friendship and mutual concerns in overcoming conflict, pick up a copy of Snow in Jerusalem from your library.

Want More?
Visit the author's website.
Read an interview with the illustrators.
You might also want to read: One City, Two Brothers Big Kid says: Whose house will the cat live in?

Pancake City: The Golem's Latkes

2011-12-13T05:29:00.000-05:00

When I first saw The Golem's Latkes I was skeptical. First, because I find the concept of the Golem a little creepy and second, because I confess I have failed to find many picture books about the Jewish holidays that inspire me. The ones I find in the library all seem to either feel the need to recount every historical detail of the event in full or are about spiders (Sammy, anyone?).

I don't read books about spiders. No matter how good other people say they are. Period.

But I digress.

In Eric Kimmel's latest Hanukkah offering, The Golem's Latkes, Rabbi Judah Loew of Prague crafts the legendary Golem from clay, writes a magical word on his forehead and then sets him to work with household chores. When his housemaid, Basha, requests the Golem to help her get ready for Hanukkah, the Rabbi reluctantly agrees but warns her not to leave the Golem alone or he will never stop working. Basha, impressed by the Golem's cooking skills, instructs him to continue making latkes while she pops out to gossip with her friend. Just for a minute, you understand. The Golem, true to his clay-for-brains form, makes latkes enough to fill the streets of Prague. When Rabbi Judah finally commands him to stop there are enough latkes to have what is essentially a city-wide latke block party -- for eight days. The story ends on the anticipatory high note while Basha contemplates if the Golem may also be skilled in the art of making hamantaschen for Purim.

I'm not an expert on either the Golem or on Jewish narratives so I will not make any authoritative statements about whether or not Rudolf II would actually attend a Hanukkah party given by Rabbi Loew (although I believe he was rather cosmopolitan), or whether or not the Golem would be set to work making latkes in lieu of defending the Jewish ghettos. Not to mention: hello? where did all the potatoes come from? I'm sure there are many narratives and many incarnations of the Golem and his story, so why not have a little fun with it.

The Golem's Latkes is an exceptionally fun read aloud for the holiday. It's playful, quirky and fortunately Aaron Jasiski's Golem is more cute than he is creepy. The setting of medieval Prague can't be beat and I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't like to attend a party with limitless latkes and wagons full of sour cream.

Latkes: they bring people together.

Want More?
The Whole Megillah has a lightening fast pros and cons of the book.
The New York Times likens the book to Disney's Sorcerer's Apprentice.
Eric Kimmel has written loads of other books: find out about them on his website.

Big Kid says: Are you making latkes this year?
Little Kid says: This is the book about cookies.

Festive City: Everett Anderson's Christmas Coming

2011-12-11T04:53:00.001-05:00

Lucille Clifton's Everett Anderson's Everett Anderson's Christmas Coming is a gentle little book about a young boy who eagerly awaits Christmas by observing all that is happening around him. For five days before Christmas, he watches the snow fall on the apartments below his 14th story window, looks in store windows, decorates his tree and enjoys a party. Clifton's touching poetry takes us into the young boys' inner life full of wonder and anticipation.

There are a lot of little urban details in this lovely book that city dwellers will appreciate, although the story is easily enjoyed by everyone, no matter where they live. Everett's mom gives a party, which Everett subtly lets us know his downstairs neighbors did not appreciate. There is the careful activity of getting a tree into an elevator and playing in snow covered playgrounds. Jan Spivey Gilchrist's illustrations have a dreamy feel, which is well fitted to Clifton's poetry. Ultimately, however, this is not a book about the city, but about a wide-eyed, observant and well-loved boy.

I found Everett Anderson's Christmas Coming to be a special little book. Written in 1971 and republished in the 1990s, it's now out of print, but if it's in your library's catalog, I recommend checking it out.

Want More?
Read about Lucille Clifton.
Clifton wrote several other "Everett Anderson's" books you could search out.
When winter is done, read Clifton's The Boy Who Didn't Believe in Spring, which I reviewed here.

Big Kid says: When are we getting a tree?
Little Kid says: He wants that bicycle.

Festive City: Christmastime in New York City

2011-12-08T02:30:00.000-05:00

The title of Roxie Munro's Christmastime in New York City is self-explanatory. Colorful illustrations of popular New York City Christmas attractions are accompanied only by labels. Despite its simplicity both my boys enjoy looking at the illustrations and talking about what they have seen and what they want to see during the holiday season -- so I thought I'd include it on this blog.

If you live in or love NYC, you might enjoy this book, too.

Want More:
Roxie Munro's Inside-Outside book series includes the cities Paris, London, Washington, D.C., and New York City.
Visit the author's website.

Big Kid says: Grandma and Grandpa took me to FAO Schwartz once.
Little Kid says: Can we see that?

Soaring City: The Little Reindeer

2011-12-05T05:23:00.000-05:00

When I read the jacket blurb about the author of The Little Reindeer living in England I was so excited that this might be a city book set in an English city! Sadly, no. The book is set in New York City. Not that NYC isn't terrific. It is, but there is such an abundance of city-themed books set in NYC and such a dearth of picture books set in English cities (at least that I can find) that I could not help but be disappointed.

However, once I started to read the book I got over my disappointment quite quickly. So don't let the choice of settings deter you from picking up this book to read over the holiday season, for the illustrations are spectacular and the story lovely.

When a curious little reindeer investigates the bustling activity in the toy workshop, he finds himself accidentally wrapped up as a gift and delivered to a snowy city rooftop. A young boy finds and cares for the little reindeer. Together they eat peanut butter sandwiches and watch the city activity from the rooftops with the pigeons. When the little reindeer discovers he can fly, he and the boy begin to venture farther and farther from home, discovering the joys of soaring above the city at night. However, both the boy and the little reindeer realize that the fate of a flying reindeer is bigger than just one metropolis and one special morning, the boy wakes to sleigh tracks, jingle bells on pigeons and a note from an important man.

Foreman's watercolors are spectacular and gorgeous. As we spend the action of the book above the city over the course of a year, the mood of the book is serene. There are some intriguing surprises, however. Billboards play an unusual role and one cannot help but notice the abundance of water towers. Pigeons are delightful instead of a nuisance. It all makes one want to climb to the nearest rooftop and wait for one's own reindeer to arrive.

The Little Reindeer is a lovely story of friendship and devotion to share this holiday season (or anytime, really). Read it.

Want More?
Learn about the author.
Read an interview at Paper Tigers.
Apparently there was an animated short based on the book.

Big Kid says: I love that book.
Little Kid says: Mommy, look! Taxis!

Turkey City: The Money We'll Save

2011-12-01T04:04:00.000-05:00

Last year I rounded up a number of Christmas-in-the-City books and will be doing the same this December. My first selection is brand-new to the shelves and quite a treat: Brock Cole's old-fashioned, humorous tale The Money We'll Save.

With all the children busy with their chores, Ma must send Pa to the grocer's with a list. When she gives the warning, "Christmas is not far off, and we must save every penny," Pa returns with a young turkey for the family to fatten up for Christmas dinner. "Think of the money we'll save!" he proudly declares. As you might imagine, raising Alfred (as the turkey is now called) is no simple matter. The family experiments with creative ways to keep Alfred from overrunning the apartment, all to humorous effect. Mrs. Schumacher, the neighbor, makes a cameo now and then to complain about the noise and compounding chaos but the family's attachment to Alfred grows and they simply cannot eat him for dinner. What will they do?

Cole's quirky, touching and lively story, set in a nineteenth century tenement apartment, is full of surprises. Other than a few scenes at the market, the action of the story takes place in the family's apartment (or on the fire escape!), emphasizing the intimate nature of the story. End papers show a bevy of hanging laundry in a group of tenement buildings. But while these are people who hang, rather than send their laundry we are never allowed to get bogged down with heavy handed ideas about poverty and hardship. Rather, the lively and appealing illustrations carry us along a wave of joyful, creative and enthusiastic problem solving!

A truly enjoyable holiday read.

Want More?
Read a review at Waking Brain Cells.
Book Aunt looks at some other Brock Cole books.
I'm guessing you'll see this book reviewed several times in the next few weeks!

Many thanks to the publisher, Farrar Straus Giroux, for kindly providing me with a review copy.

Exhibition City: Visual Narrative

2011-11-26T16:20:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving is over. It must be time to start reviewing books about the winter holidays.

While you are patiently waiting for me to do that, you might like to check out this wonderful exhibit at the Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library: Visual Narrative: Drawings, books and printed object by Paul Hoppe. There is only one week left, so I guess I should have told you about it earlier.

But just in case... children's book and graphic book author and illustrator, Paul Hoppe, has contributed some terrific art work to the exhibit, most of which is city-themed. (I'm embarrassed to say that I took this photo just before I saw the "No flash photography" sign. Sorry!) My favorite illustration was of a snowplow on a city rooftop, but Big Kid loved the overhead electric train soaring above the city (which you can see here).

Even if you can't make it to the exhibit, check out the web page for a small glimpse and description.

Want More?
Visit Paul Hoppe's website.

Festive City: Rivka's First Thanksgiving

2011-11-18T14:07:00.001-05:00

I forgot that I had Rivka's First Thanksgiving sitting in my to-review-before-Thanksgiving-pile! This is quite pathetic, as there were only 2 books in the pile, but you still might have time to track it down before the big day. If not, put it on your list for next year.

In Elsa Okon Rael's Rivka's First Thanksgiving, the title character is the daughter of Jewish immigrants from Poland. She learns about Thanksgiving at school, but her parents don't think it sounds like it is a holiday for Jews. Her mother tells her, "It sounds to me as though this is a party for Gentiles." Well, this is just not good enough for Rivka who decides to take the issue to the Rabbi. But, lo and behold, the Rabbi agrees with her mother! What is Rivka to do? Well, what any intrepid, determined girl would do: she writes a letter of protest! For this she is called to state her case before a whole bunch of Rabbis!

Despite the rather doubtful premise that the Rabbis had not yet heard of Thanksgiving, I truly enjoyed this book. It presented an interesting perspective on the traditional holiday and I especially appreciated that the learned adult community was able to listen with respect to the ideas and opinions of a young girl and to admire her point of view. Rivka draws insightful paralles between her Jewish family's experience and the experience of the Pilgrims.

The turn-of-the-century city landscape in this book is illustrated by Maryann Kovalski. The setting is obviously New York's Lower East Side although the only textual nod to place is a reference to Rivington Street. The tenement houses, narrow stairways and views of busy street life and laundry on fire escapes are the same familiar and comforting images we've seen over and over again whenever this neighborhood appears in picture books.

If you're bored with rhyming books about turkeys and Mayflowers, Rivka's First Thanksgiving is a great addition to your Thanksgiving reading. It might, however, be better appreciated by children who already have a grasp on the meaning and history of the Thanksgiving holiday (there is also a brief mention of pogroms).

Want More?
Visit the illustrator's website, she has some photographs that inspired her illustrations on this page.
Read my reviews of other Thanksgiving in the City books.
Listen to a 3 minute interview with Maryann Kavolski here (starting around minute 9:30). It's very interesting!

Huggy City: Loopy

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

I love it when I find books for this blog purely by accident.

Aurore Jesset's Loopy is a Swiss import (How many other Swiss picture books do you know? Oh, look! I've reviewed one!) about a girl who has left her favorite toy bunny at the doctor's office. After I read this book I felt sure that someone must have already made the connection with Knuffle Bunny (Oh, look! Someone has!), but here the protagonist's mommy has refused to make a midnight run to retrieve the toy. (The Swiss are obviously more sensible than we are.) Consequently, the young girl imagines all sorts of worrisome adventures Loopy must be having -- ghosts in the doctor's office!, bunny-eating garbage trucks! -- and how she might save the toy. Not to worry, though, her bunny is returned to her by someone who knows how important just the right huggy is at bedtime.

I really enjoyed Loopy, as did my 2 year old. At first I thought it might be too scary for him, but the child's narrative voice is direct, simple and honest, and Barbara Korthues' illustrations are so interesting, with their toy cars and kids flying around in paper airplanes, that he found the book much more fascinating, than frightening. Unlike Knuffle Bunny, we never see the adults, despite their influence on the action of the book. This is the girl's story and their are no red-headed bleary-eyed parents to steal the show.

We first see the nighttime city out the bedroom window, with it's black buildings dotted with yellow-lit windows, but as our heroine imagines the worst the row of buildings turn into a crocodile -- mirroring her imagination of how dangerous the world must be for a lost, alone stuffed blue bunny. At street level, however, the buildings take on a more colorful palette and are more benign, though still an appropriate backdrop for the girl's fears.

Don't be put off by the idea that Loopy might be scary, it has a joyous ending and is a book worth checking out.

Want more?
Read a good thorough review at The Imperfect Parent.
In addition to Knuffle Bunny, other books on the them of toys lost in the city include: The Teddy Bear La La Rose. and

Little Kid says: She got her huggy back. [note: we call bedtime friends "huggies"]

Visit Jama for a Great Review and Giveaway

2011-11-09T14:19:00.005-05:00

Recently I reviewed Melissa Sweet's Balloons Over Broadway. If the review peaked your interest, I encourage you to head over to Jama's Alphabet Soup, where there is a phenomenal review packed with illustrations, vintage photographs (love the Nantucket Sea-monster!!), an interview with the author, and a giveaway for the book. But hurry, the giveaway ends tomorrow.

Epistolary City: Love, Mouserella

2011-11-06T14:59:00.001-05:00

If I was an author/illustrator who had just won the Caldecott for a fabulous book like Interrupting Chicken, I would be extremely nervous about all the attention that people would be paying to my next book. Of course, if I had just won a Caldecott award and I was the awesome Davie Ezra Stein I probably would have a bit of confidence in my abilities.

Predictably, David Ezra Stein's Love, Mouserella was reviewed by many and so I won't spend too much time recounting the basics. Stein crafted this book as a letter (no email for this mouse!) from a young mouse to her ~~grandmother~~ grandmouse who has just moved to the country. Imagine the cover you see on the right flipped 90 degrees because the book opens horizontally, like an envelope. I'm rather surprised that no reviews I read mentioned that this story may have been inspired by the Country Mouse-City Mouse folk tale. I can't help but wonder a return letter from grandmouse is in Stein's future...

The letter starts out as many letters do, "I don't know what to write..." but then builds momentum as Mouserella recounts her adventures in the city. She wonders if her grandmouse misses the city. She can't help but contrast her city life with the country life she imagines her grandmouse has: one with (sadly) no packets of ketchup, but one which is filled with starry skies. Mouserella writes about a city-wide blackout and I seem to recall that I have read several picture books that mention blackouts (in addition John Rocco's terrific Blackout). Of course, now I cannot recall which books they were. I suppose there is something in the city dwellers' collective conscious that just won't let go of those moments in the dark. (That would be an interesting project: all the urban picture books which mention the lights going out? Hmmm, how would one find those in the card catalog?)

The city in the book is mouse-sized as opposed to mice living an underground existence and I noticed that Mouserella's apartment has one of those mythical and coveted balconies with sliding glass doors. Like all city kids she gets to visit the Zoo (Ooh, scary cats!) and the Natural History Museum (Ooh, scary cave mice!). One of my favorite moments is when she plays fetch at the park with a ladybug. Of course the final image is of Mouserella mailing her letter in the blue city postbox during a rainstorm. I can't describe why, but the fact that it was raining seemed very appropriate for letter-mailing! This image also reminded me of how, when I first moved to the city, I had remember to drop outgoing mail in a postbox, rather than put it in my personal curbside house mailbox with the red flag up!

While Love, Mouserella is certainly charming and endearing in many ways, it is not my favorite Stein book. That honor belongs to Pouch! with its sweet and true simplicity. On my first reading, Love, Mouserella lacked an element of tension that I like in a picture book. However, I recognize that not all books need be overloaded with tension and suspense and in the interest of full disclosure both of my kids loved the book and have requested it several times. Their opinions in this case are more important than mine (although my 2 year old does think Pouch! to be the best thing since sliced bread).

I'm guessing your kids will like it too.

Want More?
If you prefer reviews more concise than mine check out these at Sal's Fiction Addiction, A Year of Reading, New York Journal of Books.
Visit the author's website.
If you also liked Pouch!, here is a lovely storyline of the book's creation (and a picture of the author at the Brooklyn Zoo!)
Read an interview with the author at Seven Impossible Things.

Big Kid says: Putting honey on your ears sounds gross.
Little Kid says: She's throwing a stick at that ladybug!

Parade City: Balloons Over Broadway

2011-11-03T05:45:00.017-04:00

Thanksgiving books tend to be set on turkey farms, Pilgrim homesteads or around well-laid tables in suburban homes. I should know, I went through every Thanksgiving book at the Brooklyn Public Library.

This year, I am pleased to report there is a new Thanksgiving-themed book set in the city, and I am especially pleased to report it is written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet.

For anyone who has ever watched (or will watch) the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, Sweet's Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade is essential reading. While the familiar larger-than-life balloons are now emblematic of the parade, this was not always so. Sweet's book gives us the low-down on Tony Sarg ("rhymes with aargh!"), the inventor of these upside-down marionettes.

The story starts when Sarg was six years old and began his inventing career figuring out a way to automatically open the family's chicken coop from his bedroom window. Apparently, for this feat his father rewarded him by saying he never had to do another chore. Ever. Perhaps it was all the free time left on his hands that led him to tinker around with marionettes. As an adult, Sarg moved first to London and then on to New York, where he got his start decorating windows at Macy's. In 1924 when the parade takes off, Sarg began by designing costumes and floats. Sweet devotes the majority of the book detailing Sarg's development of the helium balloons now used in the parade. Of course we know he was successful, but Sweet does an excellent job of making Sarg's journey interesting and suspenseful.

If you are familiar with Sweet's illustrative style you are probably already a fan, but you should know she has really outdone herself here. Combining collage, drawings, vintage ephemera and puppets she made herself (some based on Sarg's drawings!), Sweet has created a feast for the eyes. The city backdrop is essential to the story and I was pleased to see that she did not forget about period details like the El train. Somehow she has made the city buildings seem like a small town which has the appropriate effect of making the balloons seem even more gigantic. An especially nice touch were the spectators hanging out of their windows watching the parade. (That's some prime real estate, people!)

The end pages include a newspaper clipping from 1933 in which I was delighted to see the same blue elephant whose fate I had enjoyed following throughout the book. It was also amusing to find out that Santa Claus used to be pulled in a dog sled drawn by 11 huskies! An author's note on Sarg and the parade's history completes the book.

Only 21 more days until the parade! There's still plenty of time left to pick up a copy of this book. You're sure to enjoy it.

Want More?
Read a thorough review at Abby the Librarian.
Visit the author's website -- she has crafts to go with her books.
Read Millie and the Thanksgiving Parade (reviewed here at Storied Cities) or Gracias, A Thanksgiving Turkey (also reviewed here), for more Thanksgiving in the City fun.
Visit the Macy's Parade Website, which includes a history of each parade and features Sweet's artwork.

Thanks to the publisher, Houghton Mifflin, for kindly providing me with a review copy.

Immigrant City: American Too

2011-10-27T00:48:00.000-04:00

This looks like it will be my last immigrant-in-the-city themed book of the month. I have certainly not exhausted the topic, but I am happy to be ending this theme on a high note: American Too.

None of the immigrant-themed books I've written about so far have focused on that perennial symbol of hope for a new life: the Statue of Liberty. It's certainly been in the illustrations of most of the books, but in Elisa Barone's American Too, it is moved to the forefront.

A very young Rosina immigrates to America with her family and the first thing she sees is the Statue of Liberty. Rosina find her beautiful and hopes one day to be as beautiful herself. Growing up in New York City, Rosina starts to value her American life and culture over the Italian one at home. She refuses to speak Italian, sits on her hands when she speaks (to avoid gesturing!) and discards her red coral necklace when the neighborhood girls tease her about being superstitious. In the process she acts like many American teenage girls and yells at her parents. Mon Dieu! When, to her dismay, she is chosen as queen of the Italian festival of San Gennaro she harnesses her admiration of the Statue of Liberty and becomes an Italian-American Queen.

American Too is a high-spirited book with a positive outlook on the immigration experience. Ted Lewin's watercolor illustrations are amazing. I am usually a fan of a less realistic style of illustration for children's books, but his painting serve the book remarkably well. The expressions on the characters faces brilliantly capture the emotions expressed in the story. The city in the book is not nitty-gritty, colors are light, tenement apartments are clean and sunshine is abundant. Apartment interiors and views of city sidewalks will draw you in with their detail. The iron work and stone detailing on the buildings are particularly impressive. Having tried working with watercolor myself, I am always amazed when artists exhibit such control over a naturally uncontrollable medium.

Ignore the two bad customer reviews on Amazon, they completely missed the point of the story. Fortunately, the professional review did not. This would be a great book to read in conjunction with any patriotic holiday.

Want More?
Bartone and Lewin also collaborated on Peppe the Lamplighter, also about Italian immigrants. I reviewed that book here.
I've also reviewed Lewin's book Stable, set in Brooklyn, and the Lewin-illustrated Paperboy.
Watch this blog for more Lewin illustrated books, because they are coming.

Immigrant City: Hannah Is My Name

2011-10-24T00:48:00.003-04:00

Hold on to your hats, here's a book about an immigrant family that's not set in New York City!

Belle Yang based her book, Hannah is My Name, on her family's experience immigrating to San Francisco from Taiwan. Over the course of two years, Na-Li, who adopts the name "Hannah," becomes accustomed to life in America. But her life is not carefree, as she and her family have moved to America without legal status. Hannah relates many of her anxieties about her new life, including her family's need to find a cheap place to live, the fear that their application for green cards might be denied, the danger of being discovered working illegally, and even the shame over wearing shabby cloths. These realities are not glossed over in the book. Hannah watches as her friend is deported and her father hides during a green card check at his place of employment.

This is a picture book for children 6 and up, and there is a lot of text. I didn't realize that Yang's book was set in the 1960s until one day Hannah's teacher tells the class that Martin Luther King was just killed. There is nothing in the illustrations to date them. In fact the illustrations are quite colorful and help emphasize the story's more cheerful notes.

San Francisco is the closest big city to my hometown and the images of the city in Yang's book are familiar to me: cable cars, a Chinatown full of treats like moon cakes and ducks hanging from the windows, the Golden Gate bridge in the background. Yang, who also illustrated the book, begins the story with a two page illustration of the family in rural Taiwan being transported by ox and cart, but ends the book with the family being transported through the city by a taxi. In both illustrations the family is joyful: at the start because they are on their way to a new life, and at the end, because they have just received their green cards (which are actually blue!).

I think Hannah is My Name is a good book to share with slightly older children. The anxieties that Hannah's family feels are a good talking point for discussions over the difficulties illegal immigrants feel and the importance of being sensitive and empathetic with their situations.

Want More?
Visit the author's website.
Read more about the author in an article in UCSC's Currents.