Review by Booklist Review
Following up their study of urban infrastructure in City of Water (2021), Curtis and Dockrill survey ways urban neighborhoods around the world have fostered stronger feelings of community. Taking a positive approach, Curtis focuses on success stories: a street in Lisbon that saw an economic revival after being painted pink, a playground in Tokyo made entirely of ingeniously repurposed tires, floating mini-docks in Izmir, Turkey, and waterside hammocks in Halifax that have proved popular spots for hanging out. Exhorting readers to look for ways to boost their own communities from "all right to AWE-mazing," the author suggests other types of projects, from sponsoring street art or music to creating green spaces or temporary "pop up parks." The illustrator matches 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. Readers inspired to undertake some local urban renewal of their own will find a helpful checklist and lists of resources at the end.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--6--In the fourth book in the "ThinkCities" series, which includes informational texts about the ways people interact with cities, Curtis sets out to tell young readers about myriad ideas for what great neighborhoods might offer residents. This vividly illustrated book starts with background on why neighborhoods and communities are helpful as well as acknowledging that there are barriers to everyone feeling welcome. Then, individual paragraphs explore how people all over the world were inspired to make their neighborhoods better. Community gardens and ovens, furniture, paint and artwork, music, dance, and library projects are some of the ideas discussed. Brightly colored artwork reflects some of the projects and exude a warmth and energy befitting a book about engaging communities. The text is very small and lightweight which may make this a difficult read-aloud, but it's an excellent starting point for generating creative ideas about community projects or for independent research. VERDICT A good addition to libraries needing informational text about neighborhoods and communities.--Debbie Tanner
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Placemaking--shaping public spaces through community action--can make urban neighborhoods friendlier and more fun and inclusive. In her fourth book in her ThinkCities series, Canadian writer Curtis looks at ways people in cities all over the world--from Mexico City to Tokyo, Addis Ababa to Auckland--have made changes for the better. The ideas are both surprising and inspiring: brightly painted benches, open-air libraries, pianos left out for passersby to play, pop-up parks, and public bathrooms with transparent walls that become opaque when the space is occupied. The text is set against exuberant, creatively intertwined illustrations that depict city dwellers diverse in ethnicity, age, and ability. People can be seen walking, riding bicycles, making art or conversation, playing, and just chilling out. Realistically, there are occasional cars, but the focus is on the people, a true city of neighbors. What might have seemed like a long inventory is enlivened by these images, which depict many of the examples mentioned in the text: a mural memorializing George Floyd in Minneapolis, a Toronto fountain with 27 cast-iron dogs and one cat, a "light ceiling" that makes an alley in Athens a brighter, safer place. The author concludes by inviting readers to get involved, offering an extensive list of suggestions for getting started. A lively exposition of creative community-building projects. (glossary, selected sources, further resources for adults) (Nonfiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
