Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Small in the City

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
When you're small in the city, people don't see you, and loud sounds can scare you, and knowing what to do is sometimes hard. But this little kid knows what it's like and knows the neighborhood. And a little friendly advice can go a long way. Alleys can be good shortcuts, but some are too dark. And there are lots of good hiding places in the city, like under a mulberry bush or up a walnut tree. And if the city gets to be too much, you're always welcome home, where it's safe and quiet.
  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Levels

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from July 8, 2019
      In his solo debut, Smith (Town Is by the Sea) follows a bundled-up child walking in winter amid tall buildings, traffic, and telephone poles. “I know what it’s like to be small in the city,” the narration begins. As it continues, readers slowly realize that the child is addressing someone in particular. Snow starts to swirl, and the child begins to offer advice: watch out for big dogs; a dryer vent might be a good place for a nap (“you could curl up below it”). The winter wind whips, and snow swirls faster. The child bends over a knapsack for a pink sheet of paper; “LOST,” it reads, over a picture of a cat. (A look back reveals the posters affixed all over town.) “If you want,” the child says, in words readers now understand are directed at the lost feline, “you could just come back.” Smith’s understated portrait of longing for the return of a beloved family member takes readers on a quiet but powerful emotional journey, one whose intensity Smith tracks visually as the winter storm becomes a blizzard and the driving wind makes it nearly impossible to see—until, just as suddenly, it lifts. The story’s spotlight is not on the loss of the pet, or on its return, but on the state of suspension in between—a mixture of grief, resignation, and patient waiting—and the independent child narrator’s loving regard for the animal as an autonomous being. Ages 4–8.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Stephanie Willing creates a soft voice for a small child who describes a typical day in the city in order to help soothe some of the common fears of big-city life. Calming music throughout also reflects the personality of the main character. Bustling background noises of the city include traffic humming, construction hammering, dogs barking, and the wind blowing, which add to the atmosphere and establish the setting. The sounds ebb and flow along with the story and are juxtaposed with triumphant music as the child returns home after a busy day. Listeners will appreciate the relaxed pacing as they hear advice on how to cope with and even cherish city life. M.D. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:530
  • Text Difficulty:1-3

Loading