Hidden City

February 5, 2018
Debut author Tuttle and illustrator Schimler-Safford celebrate the plants and creatures that thrive in cities and towns in 27 understated poems and richly textured digital illustrations. Tuttle packs notable tension into her pared-down poems, which move subtly through the seasons. In one moody spread, “little brown bats/ hunt/ with a/ dart!/ and a/ swoop!/ and a hasty/ wing-scoop!” beneath a streetlight’s glare; on the facing page, a harvestman (daddy long legs) “splits open its body” as it molts, “leaving behind only/ an empty exoskeleton.” Elsewhere, a red-tailed blackbird chases away a hawk to protect its marsh nest, and ant colonies wage war on the sidewalk (“Antennae wave/ legs grip/ mandibles rip”). Readers will be left realizing that nature’s miniature dramas are closer than they think. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Anna Olswanger, Olswanger Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Marietta Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary.

April 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-The city pulses with nature in this collection of 27 short poems that take a closer look at the habits of many plants, insects, birds, and animals. Beginning with a mother mouse scurrying back and forth under the table with scraps of paper to build her nest, the poems deftly steer readers through the cycle of a year. Dandelions sprout at the bus stop bench, and pigeons "strut/turn/dip" in a courtship dance. Community gardens grow, and raccoon kits learn how to hunt for dinner in garbage cans ("place paws firmly and/push /push again/push again/until/CRASH!/ a feast spills out of the bin."). Large spreads of bright collagelike digital art subtly introduce the seasonal shifts, while the poetry uses sound, imagery, and a little humor to make each flora or fauna recognizable and part of the natural rhythm of the city. As winter settles in, the slim volume closes where it began, inside a human residence. There, a house cricket on a heating vent chirps a "Winter Song" to call his mate. The author has a background in environmental studies, and the book's back matter includes a small bibliography for further reading and "Fun Facts about the Wildlife in These Poems" with a fascinating extra piece of information about each poem's subject. VERDICT This enjoyable collection introduces a wide variety of urban wildlife in an accessible way. A great addition.-Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2018
A lyric glance at what city critters are up to.Paired with Schimler-Safford's breathtaking digital collages, Tuttle's 28 free-verse poems and engaging endnotes center on representatives from the plant, animal, and insect kingdoms commonly found in North American urban and suburban settings yet often overlooked or taken for granted. Bats, elms, mice, snails, dandelions all figure large here as Tuttle explores how these beings make their homes in seemingly inhospitable environs. "Moss in sidewalk cracks / sends up delicate shoots / for shoes to / tread on / break off / carry away"; meanwhile, "on the side of a house / ladybugs / tuck under shingles" preparing "for their long winter sleep," and "a mother mouse / ... / carries / forgotten paper away / to build her nest." Throughout the work, Schimler-Safford's brightly shaded collages, often reproduced in double-page spreads, create a dazzling, multidimensional effect that deftly echoes the vast scenes Tuttle describes, such as red-winged blackbirds amid the cattails of a marsh or a "Sunflower Buffet," where golden flowers towering atop sinewy vines yield nourishment to a menagerie of seemingly lesser creatures: "ant / fly / moth / bee / butterfly / sparrow / squirrel / me."Of especial appeal to small children already drawn to Earth's tinier residents, this celebration of urban wildlife subtly informs as it delights. (additional facts, further reading) (Picture book/poetry. 3-8)

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March 15, 2018
Grades K-2 Science and poetry intersect in this journey through the lives of flora and fauna that make their home close to humans. From the moss in the sidewalk cracks ( delicate shoots / for shoes to / tread on / break off / carry away ) to peregrine falcons on window ledges ( She clutches the edge of her nest, / bobs her head, / and then / flap! flap-flap flaps her wings ), there's a surprising multitude of plants and animals living in urban and suburban areas. These joyful poems examine spots of life: a community garden in an empty lot, a family of raccoons scouting for food in the trash, a cluster of ladybugs on the side of a house. The bright collage illustrations capture the frenetic energy of city life, offering up levels of detail that will entertain kids through repeated readings. For the science inclined, a final spread offers up additional fun facts about every plant and animal mentioned, along with some further reading suggestions. An exuberant, early-STEM romp that celebrates the environment.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2018
Flowers, birds, and small creatures abound--even in the shadows of tall buildings and bus stops--in this poetic celebration of nature in the city. The detailed digital-collage illustrations beg readers to slow down and ponder their bright colors and small intricacies, while short poems exalt familiar sights such as raccoons, pigeons, and even the gardener-maligned dandelion. Wildlife facts are appended. Reading list.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)