Mi Ciudad Sings
(English With Some Spanish)

K-Gr 2--A sweet tale of community and hope in the face of adversity. A little girl with brown skin and her dog walk through their city, admiring the sounds it makes--the revving of the cars, humming radios, the whistling of street cars. Its harmony is interrupted by the loud rumbling of an earthquake, and for the first time, the city is silent. Without skipping a beat, the community members unite to help those who were affected by the natural disaster. Sounds from sirens and helicopters fill the air, and emergency personnel step in, but that's not all. The little girl decides to put her part by returning the baker's dog to him. And as her neighbors work to repair their beloved city, they sing and dance to the traditional Mexican song "Cielito lindo." This lovely picture book will inspire kids (and adults) to take a moment to listen to the world around them. It will also inject a sense of pride in their neighborhood and surroundings. The vibrant and colorful art depicts a city with Spanish-language signs, esquite carts, and compote stands. The diverse cast of background characters have expressive faces, and the artist's loose lines bring to mind the movement of dance and song. Pops of pink lend a layer of joy to the illustrations, despite the difficult circumstances. An author's note explains how the book was inspired by a devastating earthquake in Mexico City when the author was a child in 1985, and by another in 2017. VERDICT The familiar "look to the helpers" is accompanied by "look to your neighbor" in this stirring picture book. Recommended.--Shelley M. Diaz