Written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo, “Nana in the City” was awarded the Caldecott Honor in 2015.
Fall has officially arrived, so Dr. Toughlove thought it would be a great time to review the book “Nana in the City”, written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo. “Nana in the City” was awarded the Caldecott Honor in 2015. Ms. Castillo has written several children’s books and has illustrated many picture books for other authors.
Dr. Toughlove loves books that use illustrations to help tell the story, and “Nana in the City” does a remarkable job in this regard. While the name of the city is never explicitly stated, there are images that greatly resemble New York City sights that include the Brooklyn Bridge, the New York City skyline, subway stations, elevated train tracks, the Empire State Building and Central Park. Likewise, the leaves on the trees are yellow and orange, depicting a typical autumn scene in New York City.
“Nana in the City” is about a little boy who visits his beloved Nana, who has just moved to an apartment in the city. The nameless boy in the story loves his Nana, but he does not love the city. “Nana, aren’t you afraid in the city? It is busy, loud and filled with scary things” (p. 17).
Dr. Toughlove doesn’t want to share all of the details, but the young boy learns that there are many extraordinary things to learn about and do in the city. The old saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” could certainly apply here.
There are many themes in this book, but one of the most important is the love that exists between the Nana in the story and her grandson. If you don’t live in a city and wonder if this book will be appealing, Dr. Toughlove contends that sharing love and new experiences with those you love is the most compelling message in this book. This universal message can be discussed with children no matter who they are and where they or their family members live.
The colorful illustrations also create opportunities for lots of conversations. As usual, the children will point out things the reader may not even see or notice. “Nana in the City” provides lots of chances to engage in meaningful discussions.
Dr. Toughlove is known as Nana to her grandchildren, so she gets particular pleasure out of reading this book to them, and any other children who would like to listen. “Nana in the City” is also a wonderful book for an emergent reader to have a successful oral reading experience.
“Nana in the City” is a great book for kids aged 4-7, and is available at the Queen Anne’s County Library.