In the City

Toddler-An intrepid dad and his toddler spend a day in the city with nary a diaper bag or stroller in sight. They have a grand time taking in the sights, but their adventures and impressions are very different given their eye levels and sensibilities. Where he sees "shortcuts through the square," she sees hungry pigeons to chase there. Where he spies a favorite café, she sees a perfect place to play. Whether riding the subway or negotiating the bustling streets, this pair is taking it all in and having fun. Schmid's loose line and minimal background detail are perfect for capturing the characters' expressions and affection.

January 1, 2019
A child does all the talking in this deceptively simple board book about the city adventure of a child with puffy pigtails and their lanky dad who sports a hipster's porkpie hat. Uncomplicated rhyming sentences are set in a blue type for what dad sees and orange for what the child notices, making their different perspectives clear. Carefully composed sketches similar in style to Jules Feiffer's cartoons evoke the city's hustle and bustle against white backgrounds. Seemingly casual pencil strokes deftly show dad's and child's changing emotions. For example, on the second spread, Dad looks up at "big skyscrapers," while the child is more curious about a pile of newspapers. Dad seems always to have a destination--a bakery for apple strudel, a shortcut through the square--while the child is distracted by poodles and pigeons. Rural and suburban children may be confused by familiar vocabulary used in new ways, as in the sentence, "You see so much from the car" paired with a picture of the child craning to see out a subway train's window. But everyone will understand the frustration expressed in the next line: "I cannot see very far." Throughout, it is clear that this duo, both with light-brown skin, enjoy each other's company. Excellent for sharing before or after a city walk. (Board book. 1-3)

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