The Streets are Free [Paperback]

Kurusa (Author), Monika Doppert (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 13, 2008 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

This book is based on the true story of the children of the barrio of San Jose de la Urbina in Caracas, Venezuela. Although the mayor promises the children a playground, they realize that they must build it themselves. And they do just that.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A heartwarming story which can be understood by young urbanites. (School Library Journal 19960601)

It is a story of self-reliance and what can be accomplished with commitment and energy. A great story! (American Bookseller )

Creative, unrelenting characters ... a realistic, hearty, not-to-be missed read. A community action inspiring story for people everywhere. (Skipping Stones )

About the Author

Founded in 1975, Annick Press is a leading Canadian publisher of books for children of all ages. Best known as the publisher of Robert Munsch's classic picture books, Annick has expanded its publishing program to include cutting edge books for young adults and innovative non-fiction. Annick's epithet of "Excellence and Innovation in Children's Literature, " stands behind every book they publish.

(19950301)

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Annick Press (June 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550373706
• ISBN-13: 978-1550373707
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #549,888 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Book for Small(ish) Children, May 8, 2001

By 

lizardcub "lizardcub" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Streets are Free (Paperback)

This book is absolutely amazing. First of all, the pictures are beyond gorgeous. I used to look at them for ages when I was a kid. There's so much happening in them, the colors are so lush, and most of all I thought they captured the spirit of the individual characters quite well. The illustrator deserves commendation.

The story itself is wonderful. In a small space, without a hint of pedantry, it covers "issues" like urbanization, pollution, community, politics, and activism. While being a heartening, optimistic story about community and what it can do for children, the book also manages to be healthily skeptical about politicians. The basic story is that the kids want a playground. After making a big fuss at city hall (and being mistreated in the process), the story becomes a public relations issue for the mayor, so he promises them a playground--and proceeds to do nothing as the newspaper story winds down. Eventually, the kids and parents take action into their own hands and--after doubting themselves--get a wonderful playground together through their collective action.

This retelling can't do justice to the book because it loses all the flavor of what is really a lovely story. I've loved this book since I was very small (for the record, I'm 18 now and I still read kids' book!).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Streets May be 'Free' but ..., January 26, 2011

By 

Giordano Bruno - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Streets are Free (Paperback)

... there are better places to play and the kids in the impoverished 'barrio' of San Jose de La Urbina -- gouged into the hillsides above Cararcas, a slum without running water or sanitation -- know so. Their barrio was once a quite semi-rural village but it has been overwhelmed with poor people crowding together in hopes of .... well, in hopes! The kids have a decent school, but without a playground, and an adequate community library, but no playground. The truck drivers blare horns at them when the play in the street; overtaxed mothers scream at them when they lose a ball that bounces on the tin roofs of the steep shanty-lined slopes. Finally the kids decide to seek help from .... the Government! From the Municipal Council, to be precise, the closest government to their world. Their struggling, overworked parents scoff at their requests for someone to accompany them to the Municipal Offices. Finally the Librarian offers to help. Needless to say, the paunchy politicos of the Municipal Council treat these slum urchins as so much dirt until ....

But I won't 'spoil' the story with more details. It's a triumphant story of community organization, both of self-help and of inter-reliance. The text is simple enough to be read to children of kindergarten age, yet interesting enough for older children to read for themselves, especially because the art work is fantastically vivid and amusing. The scenes of life in a Venezuelan barrio are more 'realistic' in cultural insight than photographs; in them, a corrugated-metal shack is still a shack, but the humanity of those who live in it is depicted with respect and appreciation. I've been in Venezuela various times, and I've never seen a book, for readers of any age, that captures the warm-hearted community ethic of the Venezuelan people more lovingly.

This edition is in English only, but the book is also available in Spanish, titled "La Calle es Libre," with the same powerful illustrations. Both editions are being offered for pennies here on amazon, so readers who want to use the book for language learning can do so readily. ¡Viva Venezuela!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars small time activism, February 4, 2009

By 

elfdart - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Streets are Free (Paperback)

this was a cute book about some kids who live in this city that keeps growing leaving them with no where to play, so they play in the streets. people get mad a t them for getting in the way on the street so they yell back 'but the streets are free'. but the adults dont listen, so the kids take their problem to city hall, and the mayor ultimately does nothing after promising to build them a playground. so the kids come together and inspire the community to come together to build the playground. it's a nice little story about fighting for w