In New York

December 16, 2013
Why not start spreadin’ the news at an early age? Arthur creator Brown reports that he fell in love with the Big Apple as an eight-year-old visiting from Erie, Pa., and vowed to live there one day (he’s now a resident of the West Village). It’s clear that he wants a new generation to get the itch to be a part of it, too. His combination tribute/guidebook (it even collects tourist information about various city activities at the conclusion) feels proudly old-fashioned in its hit-the-high-points approach; sunny, sponged artwork; and gee-whiz attitude (“People have been having fun in Central Park for over 150 years!”). This is more the New York of Liza Minnelli (who makes an uncredited cameo appearance) than of Jay-Z, but for families planning a visit, a stroll through Brown’s expansively imagined spreads offers an unintimidating introduction to the city that doesn’t sleep, with previews of everything from the subway system to architectural highlights and the global panoply that is New York cuisine. Ages 3–up.

Starred review from February 15, 2014
A very personal tour of New York takes readers eastside, westside, uptown and down. Although there is a hint of homage to Miroslav Sasek's classic This Is New York, Brown makes it fresh and new and gets it just right, with a little history, a little geography, some mind-boggling statistics and the familiar iconic sights. It's not orderly in its approach, as New York is essentially an eclectic mix of people, sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Beginning with his very first view of the city and his determination to make it his home, he catalogs the things he loves about it. He zooms through the Broadway theater district, the top of the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and more, including lesser-known places like the High Line and not forgetting the subway system. With pauses to address hunger pangs, Brown offers interesting tidbits about the vast variety of food available. He employs breezy, conversational language, speaking directly to his audience, telling them of the wonders and adventures that the city offers, inviting them to come and see it for themselves. The detailed illustrations and endpaper sketches are rendered in layers of watercolors and gouache that glow brightly with joy and vitality and demand to be viewed over and over, always to find new delights. An exuberant and heartfelt travelogue extraordinaire. (Picture book. 4-10)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from February 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-Brown offers a kid-friendly tour of New York City that captures the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. In rich, detailed spreads, readers are taken from the West Village, Brown's own neighborhood, back in time to New Amsterdam, where "clucks," "oinks," and "bahhs," mirror the ubiquitous "honks" and "beeps" of the next spread's modern metropolis. A father and son explore the city along with the reader, from the top of the Empire State Building to the lower levels of the subway, through parks, bridges, and museums across Manhattan. Locating the pair on each page is part of the fun. Young readers who have visited the Big Apple or recognize its landmarks will enjoy spotting familiar places and faces (Brown's famous character Arthur makes an appearance as a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.) The watercolor and gouache illustrations show the modern face and skyline of New York City, which includes the recently completed Freedom Tower and the High Line, a park built on an old elevated train track. Kids will love poring over the images and will revel in the facts and statistics given, like the fun tidbit that Central Park features 24,000 trees! The simple, conversational text makes this a great read-aloud, even for younger children. One minor issue is that Brown does not incorporate information on the outer boroughs, focusing only on Manhattan. Still, young travelers and travelers-at-heart won't be able to get enough of this wonderful look at the iconic city.-Marian McLeod, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2014
Preschool-G Beloved author and illustrator Brown delivers a postcard tribute to his favorite city, as bright and busy as the place itself (though perhaps not as gritty). He profiles a different attribute of the city in a series of large, vibrantly colored spreads, covering the beginnings as New Amsterdam, the subway, Central Park, the High Line, Pier 86, and lots more. Brown's style here is immediately recognizable, though the sketches display a heightened textural variety, and fans of Arthur will feel right at home (the popular aardvark even makes an appearance as a balloon at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade). A list of sites and other places of interest includes websites, directions, and suggestions, and front and back endpapers feature sketches and notes with even more ideas and opportunities. And who knows? Maybe kids and their parents will be enticed by the book's final words: New York loves its history, but at the same time, it's always changing. Don't wait for the city to be finished to come visit and see it for yourself. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)