City of Neighbors

by Andrea Curtis, illustrated by Katy Dockrill

tagged: city & town life, social activism & volunteering, recycling & green living

Description

A splash of paint, a place to sit, a popup park or playground bring life and a sense of fun to our cities.

Neighborhoods where people look out for each other, eat together, make art and build community are healthier, happier, greener and cleaner. Journey around the world to discover how people have been dreaming up new ways to ensure their cities and neighbourhoods are creative, inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

These placemaking ideas can be big — like the skateboard park built on the grounds of an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya — or small — like the painted rock snake that winds along a beach in Toronto, Ontario. Together, we can create public spaces where everyone belongs. Includes a list of ideas for children to get involved in their neighborhoods, along with a glossary and sources for further reading.

The ThinkCities series is inspired by the urgency for new approaches to city life as a result of climate change, population growth and increased density. It highlights the challenges and risks cities face, but also offers hope for building resilience, sustainability and quality of life as young people advocate for themselves and their communities.

Key Text Features

fact

further information

Andrea Curtis

ANDREA CURTIS writes for children and adults. When she’s not reading or teaching writing to kids, she can be found hiking, swimming, running, hitting balls or trying to stand on her head (not all at the same time). She lives in Toronto, Ontario with her family.

Katy Dockrill

KATY DOCKRILL is an honors graduate from Ontario College of Art and Design. Her fresh brush-and-ink illustrations have attracted a wide range of clients, and she has won a number of awards for her editorial work. She has illustrated City of Water and City of Neighbors in the ThinkCities series and A Voice for the Spirit Bears by Carmen Oliver, among other titles, as well as many covers for children's novels. Katy lives with her family in Toronto, Ontario.

Age:: 8 to 12
Grade:: 3 to 6

Awards

Commended, Ontario Library Association Best Bets

Editorial Reviews

A lively exposition of creative community-building projects.

— Kirkus Reviews

City of Neighbors is an outstanding narrative nonfiction book to inspire community action and galvanize positive change.

— CM: Canadian Review of Materials

[The illustrations match] the upbeat tone of the narrative with street scenes featuring groups of residents and visitors casually lounging on, strolling past, or otherwise enjoying the results of these many types of [placemaking] initiatives.

— Booklist

Brimming with laughter and joy, City of Neighbors is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

— Quill & Quire

Brightly colored artwork ... exude a warmth and energy befitting a book about engaging communities.

— School Library Journal

The text intermingles with colourful, joyful, and whimsical illustrations ... The book is aspirational, encouraging individual youngsters to be their own advocates in improving their neighbourhoods.

— Canadian Children's Book News

Along with colorful illustrations, this book is filled with suggestions and examples of what students can do to help their city neighborhood gain a sense of community.

— School Library Connection

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