City I Love
What’s inside...
City I Love sparkles like the lights in Times Square! Featuring eighteen poems that guide the reader on an international tour—from New York to San Francisco, London to Tokyo, and beyond—this exuberant collection is the perfect read-aloud for city kids, aspiring world travelers, and adventurous spirits everywhere. Beloved children’s poet Lee Bennett Hopkins and New Yorker artist Marcellus Hall, an exciting children’s book newcomer, have crafted an extraordinary urban-themed collection that celebrates the beauty, diversity, energy, architecture, and excitement of city life.
Age
5-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think living in a city would be different from living in the countryside?
What are some ways people can show love for their city?
Which poem in 'City I Love' did you enjoy the most, and why?
Can you think of a place in your city or town that makes you feel happy and excited, just like in the book?
If you could write a poem about our city, what would you include in it?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the poems to their own experiences, whether they've visited a city or live in one.
Discuss the illustrations and ask your child how they think the images add to the words on the page.
After reading the book, take a walk through your neighborhood or city and point out aspects that remind you both of the poems.
Invite your child to create their own short poem about your city or a favorite place, fostering a deeper connection to the book's themes.
Use the different poems to talk about the diversity of city life and the various emotions and activities cities can evoke.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Appreciation for Diversity
Explanation: City I Love showcases various cities around the world, highlighting different cultures, languages, and traditions. The vivid illustrations and engaging poems help depict a diverse human landscape.
Real-World Application: Children learn to embrace and respect differences among people, fostering openness and inclusivity in their interactions at school and in the community.
Example Lesson: Sense of Adventure
Explanation: The book takes readers on a journey through bustling cities with engaging and rhythmic verse. Each city's unique character and excitement are brought to life, sparking curiosity.
Real-World Application: This stirs a sense of exploration and adventure in children, encouraging them to discover new places, ask questions, and engage with different environments around them.
Example Lesson: Emotional Expression
Explanation: The narrative of City I Love explores various emotions associated with urban experiences—the joy of crowded festivals, the loneliness in a city crowd, and the comfort of familiar streets.
Real-World Application: Children learn to identify and express their feelings about their surroundings, boosting their emotional intelligence and ability to communicate their emotions effectively.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Imagination
Explanation: Through its poetic form and expressive illustrations, City I Love encourages children to see beauty and art in the urban landscapes.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to engage in creative activities such as drawing, writing, or performing, using their environment as a muse.