Review - My Winter City

My Winter City
by James Gladstone
illustrated by Gary Clement
Date: 2019
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

A young boy wakes up in the early light of a winter morning, pulls on his boots and mittens, and steps out into the snowy city with his dad. They trudge through the snow, their dog bounding along beside them, then a slushy, steamy bus ride takes them to the tobogganing hill for some winter fun. The boy describes all the sights and sounds of the day, from the frost in Dad’s beard and the snow “pillows” in the park, to the noisy clunking snow plows and the singing buskers they pass on their way home. That night, the boy lies awake under cozy covers, reflecting on the day, as snow blankets the world outside his window.

This is winter in the city.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This poetic book perfectly captures the feeling of winter in the city. The slush, the spray, the muddled footprints, the rivulets cutting down the bus aisle... If you've ever spent time in a big city in winter, you'll probably be able to relate. The narrative is simply a boy talking about different winter experiences, invoking the different senses.

The detailed illustrations are nice, and are in keeping with the feel of the text. There's lots to look at, especially in some of the more crowded spreads.

Overall, this is a fairly strong look at winter. It's not a pristine snow-globe sort of winter, but a more realistic one that'll be relatable to readers who have had to navigate busy streets in the most inclement weather.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5