Count on the Subway

Starred review from March 17, 2014
As a MetroCard-wielding girl proudly leads her mother uptown to Grand Central Terminal via the subway, it’s clear that they aren’t just utilizing a fast mode of transportation—they’re part of a nonstop celebration of life in a great city: “Big Apple subway, 8 cars long./ 9 people off, 10 people on./ 10 friends sway, boogie and bop/ to a tunnel beat.... Here’s our stop!” write Jacobs and Swender, the husband-and-wife team behind urban standbys My Subway Ride and My Taxi Ride. Yaccarino (All the Way to America) continues to revel in his role as one of the city’s most upbeat visual chroniclers, rendering the subway as bustling, bright, (and spotless) metropolitan crossroads with a soundtrack all its own. As the story counts from 1 to 10 and back, the numerals pop out of the typography in colored circles, a tribute to the system’s instantly recognizable signage. Yaccarino’s familiar throwback touches are also evident: the girl wears a matching coat and beanie straight out of Mad Men. Ages 2–5. Authors’ agency: Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

April 1, 2014

K-Gr 2-This counting book captures the go, go, go atmosphere of the Big Apple subway system. The text drives the story forward, echoing the way the subway moves a whole city, while a mother and her daughter observe their surroundings as they ride the train. Yaccarino's vibrant brush, ink, and Photoshop illustrations create a playful visual experience and show the diversity of the people who ride the subway every day. The story begins with "1 metro card," continues up to "10 friends," and counts back down again to "1 station, central and grand." The numbers are in different colors, and they often correspond with a color in the picture. As "3 drums thumpin' a rush-hour groove," the numeral three and an image of the drums are shown in yellow, making it easy for children to recognize the items to be counted. An amusing and fun story that will delight those who love things that go.-Christopher Lassen, Brooklyn Public Library

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2014
Count up to 10 and back again with a mother and daughter as they ride the rumbling subway. Husband-and-wife author team Jacobs and Swender are both counting and subway veterans (Nascar 1-2-3s, 2008) and (My Subway Ride, 2004), but this time they have combined the two. In short, staccato bursts, with a snappy beat, Momma and daughter take a subway ride, counting all the way. "6 empty seats, sit right down. / 7 more stops, going uptown. // Big Apple subway, 8 cars long. / 9 people off, 10 people on." The numbers in the text are cleverly designed; they look like the same circles found on New York City's transit signs. Savvy New York City kids will notice the colors don't correspond with the correct numbered subway lines--forgivable artistic license, as it allows for a nice variety of colors, and there's not a real-world line for each number. Happily, though, the path taken is absolutely a plausible trip! Yaccarino's loose-limbed riders sway with the rush of the train, and the joyful smiles make this excursion all the more fun--especially the hidden art from previous books tucked in various corners. A simple concept done with clean, commendable style. (Picture book. 2-5)

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