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Walking in the City with Jane

$19.99

From the time she was a young girl, Jane Jacobs’ curious mind made her a keen observer of everything around her. When she grew up, she moved to New York City, a place full of new wonders for her to explore. It was there she realized that, just like in nature, a city is an ecosystem. “It is made of different parts – sidewalks, parks, stores, neighborhoods, City Hall . . . and people, of course. When they all work together, the city is healthy.” So, when city planner Robert Moses proposed creating highways through the city that would destroy neighborhoods and much of what made New York great, Jane decided she couldn’t let it happen. She stood up to the officials and rallied her neighbors to stop the plans -and even got arrested! Jane’s bravery and ideas had a huge influence on urban planning that is still being felt today.~In this lively and engaging informational picture book, award-winning author Susan Hughes provides a fictionalized story of the life of Jane Jacobs, one of the world’s greatest urban thinkers and activists. This book makes a terrific resource for studying civic engagement, urban life, the history of New York and Toronto (where Jane moved later in life), and the role of city planning. Jane’s inspirational story is also an excellent example for character education lessons on perseverance, citizenship and initiative. Stylized illustrations by Valérie Boivin perfectly evoke the story’s time and place. End matter includes a brief biography of Jane Jacobs.

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Description

From the time she was a young girl, Jane Jacobs’ curious mind made her a keen observer of everything around her. When she grew up, she moved to New York City, a place full of new wonders for her to explore. It was there she realized that, just like in nature, a city is an ecosystem. “It is made of different parts – sidewalks, parks, stores, neighborhoods, City Hall . . . and people, of course. When they all work together, the city is healthy.” So, when city planner Robert Moses proposed creating highways through the city that would destroy neighborhoods and much of what made New York great, Jane decided she couldn’t let it happen. She stood up to the officials and rallied her neighbors to stop the plans -and even got arrested! Jane’s bravery and ideas had a huge influence on urban planning that is still being felt today.~In this lively and engaging informational picture book, award-winning author Susan Hughes provides a fictionalized story of the life of Jane Jacobs, one of the world’s greatest urban thinkers and activists. This book makes a terrific resource for studying civic engagement, urban life, the history of New York and Toronto (where Jane moved later in life), and the role of city planning. Jane’s inspirational story is also an excellent example for character education lessons on perseverance, citizenship and initiative. Stylized illustrations by Valérie Boivin perfectly evoke the story’s time and place. End matter includes a brief biography of Jane Jacobs.

Additional information

Dimensions N/A
Cover

Hardcover

Educational resources

Reading Levels

    lexile level
  • 760l

  • guided reading
  • O

  • guided reading grade level
  • 3

Downloads and links

AWARDS & REVIEWS

Reviews

"An inspiring and appealing snapshot of a strong woman and activist, her world and her legacy, told with warmth and charm."

Kirkus Reviews, 22/01/2018

"Jane's influence remains relevant today, whether it's via ongoing efforts to protect nature and local communities from commercial development or in the way she combined family life with activism."

Quill & Quire, 01/04/2018

"Jane Jacobs was well overdue for a picture book!"

A Mighty Girl, 01/05/2018

"Hughes offers a compelling overview of Jacobs’s contributions to urban planning while introducing readers to a new way of seeing their own city environments."

Publishers Weekly, 10/05/2018

"... altogether delightful ..."

Maria Popova, Brain Pickings, 14/06/2018

"This book is a wellspring of opportunity to engage your students with their own community and challenge preset ideas that newer is always best."

ETFO Voice, 15/08/2018

"... an excellent introduction to Jane Jacobs' life, her urban philosophy and her years of determined opposition to projects that would destroy what she valued in cities."

Canadian Children's Book News, 27/08/2018

"... encourages readers to take a stand and voice their opinions about important issues ..."

CM Magazine, 02/10/2018

"... highly recommended ..."

Resource Links, 29/10/2018

Awards

  • 2019 - OLA Light Reads Great Stories, Forest of Reading, Ontario Library Association, Listed

  • 2018 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, The Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner

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