City I Love by Lee Bennett Hopkins, ill. Marcellus Hall. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2009. 978-0-8109-8327-4

Summary: Visions of cities around the world illustrate poems in various styles by Hopkins.

Analysis: While this was designed for probably 6 to 8-year-olds, it's appropriate for a unit on poetry up through high school. The poetry is fun and light and kid-appropriate, but not at all simplistic. There are many different poetic styles -- free verse, haiku, various rhyme schemes. Each 2-page spread is a different city, but they aren't identified except by distinguishing features and a world map on the inside of the cover. It's a lovely celebration of "city-ness" that ties cities around the world together without being sappily "multicultural".

Rhyme all through the poems, ex. "People standing, People sitting, People swaying to and fro. Some in suits, Some in tatters, People I will never know."

Illustrations: I *think* these are watercolor, but I'm not sure. It's very controlled, bright watercolor. The pictures play over and around the poems across a white background.

Rating: 4Q/5P

Curricular connections: Great for a middle-school unit on poetry or perhaps some sort of world history unit studying cities.

--SLH