Customer Reviews

My Subway Ride

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A semi-finalists in the 2005 Independent Publisher Book Awards!

"The city is the body, the subway is the blood, running through tunnel veins." There is poetry and music in these lines; the text pulses with a jazzy beat. This is a smart, sassy, hip presentation of the underground world of the New York City subway. From the moment the reader "buys" a ticket and climbs aboard, he or she will experience some of the voices, color and imagery of this bustling place. On the subway cars, we see many different faces - various ages, ethnic groups, nationalities, walks of life: "A sea of faces, an ocean of voices, a bit of the world in every car." The readers stop at different points of interest: Yankee Stadium (161st Street), Times Square (42nd Street), Coney Island, and so forth. The illustrations are bold and riveting. At one point, the subway cars ride up the spine of a dinosaur skeleton in a natural history museum. This is a terrific introduction to the subway system, and perfectly timed: 2004 marked a century of use.

[...]

My 4 year old and I LOVE this, even though he's never been on a subway! Great writing, simple, but descriptive. Wonderful graphics. Makes me want to go ride one for sure!

We have several subway books because my son is obsessed with trains. However, this is his favorite and he even recites the lines when on the actual train. The person who gave the 1 star review based on the writing probably doesn't have a child and is so cynical and dead inside they cant appreciate poetry and picture books anyway. It sounds excellent read out loud and is an enjoyable read.

My Subway Ride is a wonderful reading experience! The beautifully crafted language and vibrant illustrations bring the New York City subway and its culture to life. This is not just a book for New Yorkers! My Subway Ride introduces young readers to the bustle, chaos and joy of urban living and celebrates the diversity and community that make New York a great American city.

Buy the book for its richly atmospheric illustrations, but as you look at them, make up your own text. This is home-made "poetry" at its worst with its utterly clichéd metaphors and dull, noodling rhythms. It's a mystery why the writers got top billing for spoiling an otherwise fine book.