A Walk in London

Salvatore Rubbino (2011), 40 pages

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Planning a trip abroad? Feeling nostalgic about your British roots? Moving across the Atlantic?

The latter is my inspiration today … as earlier this month my cousins and their three year old made the big move from San Francisco to Windsor. Whatever the case may be, this book is a wonderful taste of London, one of the world’s most visited cities!

Join author/illustrator Rubbino as he celebrates London, and takes readers on a delightful walking tour of this great city; included are its finest buildings, landmarks, and cultural history. Brimming with interesting trivia facts and a whimsical narrative … a mother and child tour St. James’s Park, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, among others. Along the way, readers experience the city’s temporal wet weather, acrobatic and musical street performers, and vast Thames River! Learn about London’s Whispering Gallery inside St. Paul’s Cathedral or visit Britain’s oldest bank, the Bank of England. Make sure to get tickets to see a real castle, the Tower of London in the middle of the city and don’t forget to stopover at the Jewel House where the Royal Crown Jewels sparkle for all to see. Both children and parents will enjoy this story and relish the author’s attention to detail, informative facts, and thrill of city exploration.

A great read for those traveling abroad or interested in discovering new cities. Get inspired and go on an excursion of your own … a walking tour of your favorite city ... whether close or far … kids will love learning about new surroundings!

Reviewed by: Katharine Conn, MLIS

If you liked this book, you may like: This is London by Miroslav Sasek, Katie in London by James Mayhew, City Walks with Kids: London: 50 Adventures on Foot by Emily Laurence Baker

Other books by this author: A Walk in New York

Bella and Stella Come Home

Anika Denise (2010), 40 pages

Illustrated by Christopher Denise

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Husband and wife team, Anika and Christopher Denise work in unison to create a gorgeous and thoughtful picture book. It’s moving day for a young girl named Bella. Holding Stella, her yellow stuffed elephant, Bella makes her way to the new house. As the duo check out their new home, they compare it to the old one … “Stella and I walk into the kitchen. It’s yellow. Our old kitchen was blue. Stella thinks kitchens should be blue. I do to.” The narrative reads like a true conversation and reflects a child’s mindset of uncertainty, doubt, and fear when moving. Stella the elephant alternates between being a small stuffed animal and a giant life-size elephant … a testament to the way a child might imagine her friend. Christopher Denise’s illustrations capture a range of emotion from a child’s worry (as Bella rides away in the car), fear (of sleeping in a new place), curiosity (touring the new house), and joy (meeting new friends) beautifully. There is a soft sensibility to the illustrations (almost comfort) especially as the soft pastel palette moves from day to night, –the images are luminous. Perhaps color and style were conscientious choices, as the subject of moving to a new neighborhood is often scary – this book feels like a warm pink-yellow hug. The author’s simple and poignant language keeps this a story even young preschoolers can understand. I also find her inclusion of Stella (the elephant) quite amusing; perhaps a characterization of the popular idiomatic expression “elephant in the room.” A wonderful story from start to end – and perfect choice for kids making new transitions and new friends.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Zuxu’s Wishing Cake by Linda Michelin, Rosa’s Room by Barbara Bottner, or We’re Moving (First-Time Stories) by Heather Maisner

Other books by this author: Pigs Love Potatoes

Other books by this author: Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat