My Taxi Ride

We got this for my son, who was born in Manhattan, although we no longer live there. He loves it, the cadence of the rhymes is catchy, and we've read it to him so much now that he can recite it back to us! Great art-work and a mini-tour of NYC. Adults should read just to know how to hail a cab in the City!

The authors, friends of Pete and Toshi Seeger, have a rhythmic, musical writing style that captures perfectly the hustle-ly bustle of New York City, and the mosaic of people, places, and cityscapes that make it so vibrant. There's no plot, really, it's more of a Gershwin-esque paean to New York and what is sometimes the best way to travel through it-the taxi: A bus is fine, but it sticks to a line. That's okay if you've got the time. A train is a treat, but it's stuck on a track. That's a drag if you're late to get back. A car is quick but you;ve got to park it. A bike Is cool but you;ve got to lock it. Scattered through the pictures are snippets of dialogue ("TAXI!," "hey," WHOA"), as people hail one of the "more than 12,000" taxis in the city. AS entertaining and fun to read as the book is, it's also engagingly informative, both about taxis and about the sights and sounds of New York. The taxis take us (over jig-jagging streets, huge bridges, and waiting in traffic jams) to Jazz clubs, the Empire State Building, Coney Island, the theatre district, and Greenwich Village. From the Lower East to the Upper West. Ride to the Side you like the best. From Washington Heights to Brooklyn Heights, Climb on in and see the sights. MOMA! SOHO! NOHO! DUMBO! All around our New York town! We might go fast. We might go slow. Ready or not, here we go! Selina Alko's collages add immeasurably to the fun and complement the fun urban atmosphere that authors Jacobs and Swender establish so well. She incorporates crossword puzzle templates, art deco, a street map that slightly recalls "Monopoly" with interspersed child-like pictures, and other interesting patterns and perspectives (although I think the Empire State Building might have shown more grandeur; unfortunately, the picture inside the book is not as dramatic as the cover illustration.) Alko has a fascinating visual style, at times she flattens the streets and signs into one dimension so that we see them simultaneously; it's almost a combo of cubism and Rauschenberg. The authors and illustrator navigate this territory like an accomplished cab driver; it's a wonderful, kids will love this energetic book.