Little Kid, Big City!

December 15, 2020
A summertime tour of child-friendly sites and sights in the Big Apple, from the Bronx Zoo to Rockaway Beach. Spinning off from the Little Kid Big City website and Instagram account, this effervescent travelogue is arranged as a series of self-chosen itineraries. After crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, for instance, readers have the option of turning to one page to explore Brooklyn Bridge Park and other attractions on that side of the East River or turning to another to head back toward the National September 11 Memorial in Manhattan. The book exists in a pandemic-free vacuum, and the fact that many of the stops, shops, and festivals highlighted here are either closed or, at best, offering limited access for the foreseeable future goes unmentioned. Nor do the racially and ethnically diverse groups of smiling, casually posed figures in Maher's bright, informally drawn street scenes wear masks or practice social distancing. But though Beckman plays a bit fast and loose with her facts too (New York's transit system is arguably not "the world's oldest"), in making her selections of places worth visiting she delivers more than perfunctory nods to the city's outer regions. A foldout map (not seen) and a set of URLs and further details about each stop at the end will (under non-pandemic circumstances) help prospective young visitors plan their excursions. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-16-inch double-page spreads viewed at 75% of actual size.) Broader in purview than most such celebratory guides, though it represents a pre-pandemic reality. (Informational picture book. 6-10)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2021
Grades 2-5 Readers will be thrilled to plan real or virtual New York City adventures with this book and its accompanying full-color fold-out map. What makes this stand out from other such guides is its Choose Your Own Adventure style, with readers given options following each stop. After they accompany the excited fictional family to the Statue of Liberty, for example, readers are asked, "Hungry belly? Turn to page 6. Want to see the sights from the water? Turn to page 4." Kid-friendly sights throughout the city are covered, with Little Kid, Big City blogger Beckman providing intriguing details about each place and things to look for while there. The lively, stylized cartoon artwork calls to mind mid-century modern illustration, with buildings leaning higgledy-piggledy over the busy streets. Green throughout the images echoes the color of Lady Liberty and is complemented by frequent use of brownstones' burnt orange. An "Adventure Index" sums up the locations to visit and offers more details about them. Pair this delight with Salvatore Rubbino's A Walk in New York (2009) for a dizzying time.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2021

Gr 1-3-This early elementary travel guide celebrates New York City and uses the style and format of a "choose your own path" series. Hallmarks of NYC tourism are featured, including the Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center, and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Bronx Zoo. The text offers advice on navigating the gridlike streets of Manhattan, taking the subway, and information about taxi cabs. Sightseers are encouraged to taste New York's famous pizza, bagels, and the delectable offerings of Little Italy. The neighborhoods of Chinatown and Harlem are described in simplified overviews, which do not fully encompass the nuances and cultural diversity of each community. The book can be read in a linear order or readers can follow the prompts at the bottom of each section to choose their own path through the city. The cartoonish illustrations reflect the mood of a bustling metropolis. Characters with light and dark skin tones are depicted, although the main character is a boy who appears to be white and blond. An index of recommended attractions and a pull-out map of the city are included. VERDICT An engaging and straightforward guide to New York City for early elementary students.-Kelly Topita, Anne Arundel County P.L., MD

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