X. J. Kennedy, illustrated by Philippe Beha,
City Kids: Street and Sky Scraper Rhymes
Tradewind Books, 2010.

Rating: E*

This book captures the scenes and experiences of urban life, via a series of evocative poems and illustrations. Unlike so many children’s books, which inhabit a rural landscape, this one appeals directly to children who live in busy cities and other urban spaces. More so than any other collection I have read, it makes a concerted effort to express what it is like to live, (as so many do), in the heart of a city. It is well written and expressed and invites children to understand the urban environment through a wide variety of images. The poetic expression shared in this collection will help children to appreciate language and expand their vocabularies. They utilize a range of rhyme and sound patterns - haikus, metaphor and raps are all represented - within a correspondingly varied set of themes, reflecting the diversity of city life. Cleverly and humorously illustrated images capture city moments. Subjects range from the nature of apartment living, to the excitement of the park, to the man who sells chestnuts on the street, to the ubiquitous graffiti. Poems such as Who needs cow moos? cleverly contrast serene moments of nature on a farm with the appeal of a busy city, where animal sounds are replaced with taxi-cab horns. In short, this is a great anthology for the urban classroom, as it celebrates the life and culture of city kids..

Thematic Links: Imagery; City Living; Diversity; Multiculturalism; Poetry

Anne Burke
Vol. 15, number 4
April 2010

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.