Small in the City

Product Information

Some details about the 2021 winner Sydney Smith and of the Greenaway Shadowers’ Award winner, Sharon King-Chai, my review of Small in the City, and a brief history of the Greenaway medal.

Small in the City by Sydney Smith | Waterstones

A child braves strange streets in search of a mysterious someone in this gorgeous story about love and loss.”— People Magazine The city seems overpowering, dense, busy, chaotic. Smith’s use of a mixture of big and small, framed and unframed images makes us see and feel how it is to be small in such an overwhelming environment. For example, she informs her unseen listener that “people don’t see you and loud sounds can scare you”.Starting without words, the book is reflective rather than particularly narrative; we are taken along for the ride in a potentially hostile environment that the child nonetheless has found his or her place in. At the end, he or she reminds us that when we’re tired of exploring, we can always go home. After all, home is a place of love and warmth, wherever it is. Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show. the images do most of the talking. They range from modest vignettes of city life–a portion of wire fencing, a swatch of building–to showstoppers including a fractured illustration of the downcast boy’s funhouse-like reflection in a mirrored-glass skyscraper. . . . heartrending.”— Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

Small in the City | Centre for Literacy in Primary Education

A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. Some picture books make you want to hug them to your chest and not let go until the fullness in your heart subsides. ‘Small in the City’, a work of surpassing poignancy and understanding by Canadian author-illustrator Sydney Smith, is one of them.”— The Wall Street Journal This is a very sad but ultimately incredibly uplifting book with beautiful, simple illustrations that hold a wealth of emotion and just a little mystery. The beautiful and affecting cinematic-like illustrations were produced with ink, watercolor, and gouache. The author/illustrator is Canadian, precluding the book’s eligibility for the Caldecott Medal. But SMALL IN THE CITY is quite exceptional, and I anticipate seeing it included on any number of Best of the Year lists.The atmosphere will draw listeners in immediately . . . “ — The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Starred Review Knoxville was put on the global map during the World’s Fair of 1982. A lot has changed in four decades, but the event marked a turning point for the city. The 266-ft (81m) Sunsphere is a landmark remnant of the fair, with the World’s Fair Park becoming a focal point for tourism. To the west of the park is Knoxville Museum of Art, with an excellent collection of 19 th-century through to contemporary regional art. To the east of the park is Downtown, where you’ll find excellent Tennessean cuisine and plenty of Appalachian culture, particularly around Market Square. True Appalachia is due south of the city with the unmissable Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Looking for something a little different for an imaginative child who likes art? Look no further. - The Irish Independent, Children's Books of the Year

10 Smallest Cities In The World - TheTravel

Being small can be overwhelming in a city. People don’t see you. The loud sounds of the sirens and cyclists can be scary. And the streets are so busy it can make your brain feel like there’s too much stuff in it. We follow our little protagonist, who knows all about what it’s like to be small in the city, as he gives his best advice for surviving there. Centre for Literacy in Primary Education and the English and Media Centre create expert teaching resources for the shortlisted books.See currently unavailable books See my books that are unfortunately currently out of print, and also not currently available as ebooks or audiobooks. The use of line, reflection, and perspective masterfully evoke a bustling gray city, making this thoughtful book an artful choice.”— School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW Bloomington is a lively Indiana city that is dominated by the sprawling Indiana University (IU) campus. The campus is home to the Eskenazi Museum of Art, along with an array of institutions dedicated to music and the arts. Wander around Downtown and the campus and you’re bound to pass one of the city’s dozens of historical buildings listed of the National Register of Historic Places, such as Bloomington City Hall. IU has produced a stellar list of alumni, including Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, author Suzanne Collins, DNA pioneer James Watson, and many more eminent individuals. Sports fans might want to look up an IU Hoosiers game while in the city. A girl is narrating the story for us telling us it's okay to feel small in the city, but we will make it. She gives tips on how best to survive the big city and how she does it. The girl is on the bus by herself and walking around the town by herself. Man, as a parent, I would think you have to have so much faith that your kid is going to be okay in such a big place. That would be tough knowing all that can happen. Readers may be surprised too. I was surprised to find out who the young boy was speaking to and thinking about as he moved through the snowy landscape. Very clever and sweet!