Vaswani, Neela. This Is My Eye: A New York Story. Neela Vaswani, Illus. Picture Book. Candlewick, 08/2018. 56pp. $16.99. 978-0-7636-7616-2. OUTSTANDING. GRADES PRE-3.
View the world through the lens of a young biracial New York City girl, who narrates a compelling flow of photos with insightful commentary. Full-page color photographs capture the essence of urban living as seen through the eyes of a child. Buildings, bridges, flowers, street art, produce, and people are celebrated in this unique collection of images bursting with positive energy. In a photo taken by the girl, we are introduced to her African American father and her Asian American mother laughing together. Large, simple text—just a few words per page—captions the images and invites discussion. “Raindrops on a window pane” is accompanied by “Rainy days have polka dots.” A photo of bright green plants pushing through cracks in dull gray pavement is supported by the text: “Little things grow in little spaces.” Though the book portrays New York City, the images are evocative of life in any city. An author’s note encourages readers to capture their own stories through photographs. The book would make a unique addition to storytime.
Sarah Zakarako, Head Royce School