Bibliographic Data: Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 1989. City I Love. Ill. by Marcellus Hall. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0-8109-8327-4
Plot Summary or Poem Theme:
This collection of poems, all written by Lee Bennett Hopkins, explore the hidden wonders, fascinations, and annoyances of life in eighteen of the world’s most recognizable cities. Perfect for anyone with a sense of wanderlust, these poems and illustrations truly transport the reader.
Critical Analysis:
Hopkins poems are very accessible for young readers, yet they do not talk down to the audience. He relies heavily on figurative language, especially the use of onomatopoeia (“swishes, swashes, sputters, swooshing”), alliteration (“balance on beams, dangle on derricks”), and repetition (“it is so hot. So hot. So very hot,”) to convey his message(s). Cities are different, but this is a good thing. Cities are alive! They are popping, electric, alive, and noisy! This is fun, but also sometimes distracting and bothersome, as is the case for a mother pigeon that is trying to get her chicks to sleep in ‘Mother’s Plea’. The rhythm of the poems flows naturally, and the rhyming does not seem choked, or forced. The sense imagery is by and far where Hopkins excels in this collection of poems. The most notable example of this is in “City Summer”, where he is describing that the city is so hot that even the sun is wearing a sweatband. That hyperbole is exactly the right amount of silly and word play to get the audiences’ attention. “Seal at the Zoo” perhaps best highlight his command on sensory images, as seen in this line; “that big old lazy black-as-silk seal […]touch and pet and feel”. This book would definitely be useful in teaching adjectives and description words.
As far as appeal is concerned, I have to say that I was not impressed. I read every poem aloud, as one should do with poetry, and I just did not feel or believe in the poems. Did they sound nice? Yes. Did they have a clear meaning? Yes. I hate to say this, as I am a big proponent of linking children to poetry, but I just do not know if this book alone would hold a classroom’s attention.
Many times I felt the appeal was growing when I stumbled upon certain poems, but poems like “Bridge” just missed the mark. I read it initially as Hopkins saying that even the strongest man in the world was once only able to life as much as children are now, but he was referring instead to the bridge. Yes. I think children know that they will never be able to hold as much steel as a bridge! However, I can see that if children were living mostly in an urban area they could understand and identify with some of the experiences in this book, like the hydrant that the kids use as a sprinkler to play in.
As far as the layout of the book is concerned, I really enjoyed it. I was glad that the specific cities were not mentioned, but instead were illustrated. Most of the time I was far more impressed by the illustrations done by Marcellus Hall (of the New Yorker) than I was impressed by the poem(s). The dog that is present in every scene of the book lent just the right amount of humor, and I was excited to see what he was doing in every city. I feel the poem that most benefitted from the relation of Hopkins’ text, and Hall’s illustration was in “Winter”, which is eight simple words; ‘NEVER EVER quarrel with winter. It ALWAYS wins”. The illustration that accompanies this poem is a dark and dazzling watercolor of Moscow covered in snow, and depicts the dog waist deep in it. The following poem is also about snow, and this is an excellent example of how the layout or arrangement of the poems and illustrations compliment one another very well as they take us not only from city to city, but also season to season.
Spotlight Poem:
The poem I wish to highlight is the books’ namesake, “City I Love”. This poem is the best example of Hopkins’ vision, effortless rhyme and rhythm, repletion and sense imagery, as well as an amazing illustration by Hall.
Plot Summary or Poem Theme:
This collection of poems, all written by Lee Bennett Hopkins, explore the hidden wonders, fascinations, and annoyances of life in eighteen of the world’s most recognizable cities. Perfect for anyone with a sense of wanderlust, these poems and illustrations truly transport the reader.
Critical Analysis:
Hopkins poems are very accessible for young readers, yet they do not talk down to the audience. He relies heavily on figurative language, especially the use of onomatopoeia (“swishes, swashes, sputters, swooshing”), alliteration (“balance on beams, dangle on derricks”), and repetition (“it is so hot. So hot. So very hot,”) to convey his message(s). Cities are different, but this is a good thing. Cities are alive! They are popping, electric, alive, and noisy! This is fun, but also sometimes distracting and bothersome, as is the case for a mother pigeon that is trying to get her chicks to sleep in ‘Mother’s Plea’. The rhythm of the poems flows naturally, and the rhyming does not seem choked, or forced. The sense imagery is by and far where Hopkins excels in this collection of poems. The most notable example of this is in “City Summer”, where he is describing that the city is so hot that even the sun is wearing a sweatband. That hyperbole is exactly the right amount of silly and word play to get the audiences’ attention. “Seal at the Zoo” perhaps best highlight his command on sensory images, as seen in this line; “that big old lazy black-as-silk seal […]touch and pet and feel”. This book would definitely be useful in teaching adjectives and description words.
As far as appeal is concerned, I have to say that I was not impressed. I read every poem aloud, as one should do with poetry, and I just did not feel or believe in the poems. Did they sound nice? Yes. Did they have a clear meaning? Yes. I hate to say this, as I am a big proponent of linking children to poetry, but I just do not know if this book alone would hold a classroom’s attention.
Many times I felt the appeal was growing when I stumbled upon certain poems, but poems like “Bridge” just missed the mark. I read it initially as Hopkins saying that even the strongest man in the world was once only able to life as much as children are now, but he was referring instead to the bridge. Yes. I think children know that they will never be able to hold as much steel as a bridge! However, I can see that if children were living mostly in an urban area they could understand and identify with some of the experiences in this book, like the hydrant that the kids use as a sprinkler to play in.
As far as the layout of the book is concerned, I really enjoyed it. I was glad that the specific cities were not mentioned, but instead were illustrated. Most of the time I was far more impressed by the illustrations done by Marcellus Hall (of the New Yorker) than I was impressed by the poem(s). The dog that is present in every scene of the book lent just the right amount of humor, and I was excited to see what he was doing in every city. I feel the poem that most benefitted from the relation of Hopkins’ text, and Hall’s illustration was in “Winter”, which is eight simple words; ‘NEVER EVER quarrel with winter. It ALWAYS wins”. The illustration that accompanies this poem is a dark and dazzling watercolor of Moscow covered in snow, and depicts the dog waist deep in it. The following poem is also about snow, and this is an excellent example of how the layout or arrangement of the poems and illustrations compliment one another very well as they take us not only from city to city, but also season to season.
Spotlight Poem:
The poem I wish to highlight is the books’ namesake, “City I Love”. This poem is the best example of Hopkins’ vision, effortless rhyme and rhythm, repletion and sense imagery, as well as an amazing illustration by Hall.
Connection:
This book easily lends itself to many follow-up activities, but the best use would be to have the kids describe the school, library, classroom, or city in the same manner in which Hopkins does in the poems. Teach them fun, figurative language, and help them push the boundaries in terms of how they would describe their every day surroundings. This will bring a new life, or sparkle to the seemingly mundane.
Side Note:
To be fair, I read this book after reading The Brimstone Journals as well as a collection of African American Poetry that hit me hard and required me to take a break, as I was very emotional. I understand completely that not every poem, book, anthology is meant to elicit these sorts of emotions, especially not to this caliber amongst a younger crowd. Yet, I am being sincere when I say I was far more interested in the illustrations and following the little dog’s activities than I was with the poetry. I guess I just expected more from a book that has five stars on Barnes & Nobles, Amazon, and Goodreads.
Reviews:
From School Library Journal // Starred Review. "--A backpack-toting, humble hound with wanderlust and a winged companion tour several of the world's cities. Hopkins's 18 poems observe skyscrapers, hot-dog vendors, subways, taxis, bridges, bright lights, and the diversity of people and pigeons. Most of the poems span a fully illustrated spread, and youngsters will have fun finding the dog and bird on each one. Hopkins honors children's lyrical sense of music ("Sing a song of cities/if you do,/Cities will sing back/to you") and earnest astonishment ("Look!/Up there!/High up there/where/men and women/building the new skyscraper/balance on beams/dangle on derricks/glide on girders…Wondrous!"). In Paris, a mother pigeon pleads with the traffic to be quiet: "Please/city/have/some/pity./Promise me/not/ one/more/beep?/My newborn/pigeons/need/their/sleep." These polished poems are equally matched by Hall's graphic-style cartoons, which offer many added layers of narrative delight as well as beautiful colors and an eye-catching sense of design. The watercolor endpapers show a map with major cities highlighted in the poems. The illustrations have a cosmopolitan look, a little French with a splash of nostalgia. They are filled with construction-buildings, bridges, pyramids-a kind of hats-off to the magnificence of the world. This book is really special, a global tour de force.—Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti Montessori Magnet School, Springfield, MA
This book easily lends itself to many follow-up activities, but the best use would be to have the kids describe the school, library, classroom, or city in the same manner in which Hopkins does in the poems. Teach them fun, figurative language, and help them push the boundaries in terms of how they would describe their every day surroundings. This will bring a new life, or sparkle to the seemingly mundane.
Side Note:
To be fair, I read this book after reading The Brimstone Journals as well as a collection of African American Poetry that hit me hard and required me to take a break, as I was very emotional. I understand completely that not every poem, book, anthology is meant to elicit these sorts of emotions, especially not to this caliber amongst a younger crowd. Yet, I am being sincere when I say I was far more interested in the illustrations and following the little dog’s activities than I was with the poetry. I guess I just expected more from a book that has five stars on Barnes & Nobles, Amazon, and Goodreads.
Reviews:
From School Library Journal // Starred Review. "--A backpack-toting, humble hound with wanderlust and a winged companion tour several of the world's cities. Hopkins's 18 poems observe skyscrapers, hot-dog vendors, subways, taxis, bridges, bright lights, and the diversity of people and pigeons. Most of the poems span a fully illustrated spread, and youngsters will have fun finding the dog and bird on each one. Hopkins honors children's lyrical sense of music ("Sing a song of cities/if you do,/Cities will sing back/to you") and earnest astonishment ("Look!/Up there!/High up there/where/men and women/building the new skyscraper/balance on beams/dangle on derricks/glide on girders…Wondrous!"). In Paris, a mother pigeon pleads with the traffic to be quiet: "Please/city/have/some/pity./Promise me/not/ one/more/beep?/My newborn/pigeons/need/their/sleep." These polished poems are equally matched by Hall's graphic-style cartoons, which offer many added layers of narrative delight as well as beautiful colors and an eye-catching sense of design. The watercolor endpapers show a map with major cities highlighted in the poems. The illustrations have a cosmopolitan look, a little French with a splash of nostalgia. They are filled with construction-buildings, bridges, pyramids-a kind of hats-off to the magnificence of the world. This book is really special, a global tour de force.—Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti Montessori Magnet School, Springfield, MA