Thank you NetGalley and Collins Reference for this eCopy to review

I recently had the pleasure of reading My City and Me by Anneliese Amoah, a beautifully crafted anthology of poems that explores the essence of urban life and community. This book, part of the Collins Big Cat series, is aimed at young readers but offers insights and reflections that can resonate with all ages.

My City and Me is a collection of poems that explores the various facets of city life. Through the eyes of different narrators, the poems capture the vibrancy, challenges, and unique experiences of living in a bustling urban environment. The anthology touches on themes such as the diversity of city inhabitants, the beauty found in everyday moments, and the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a community.

Each poem is a snapshot of city life, from the busy streets and towering buildings to the quiet parks and hidden corners. The collection also highlights the contrasts within the city, such as the coexistence of wealth and poverty, and the blend of tradition and modernity. The illustrations by Emily Paik add a vivid and engaging visual element to the poems, making the book even more appealing.

One of the strengths of this book is its ability to evoke a sense of place and community. The poems are rich with imagery and detail, allowing readers to visualise and feel the rhythm of city life. The diversity of voices and experiences represented in the anthology adds depth and authenticity to the collection.

A none-more-worthy and right-on junior poetry book, all about the city – the community life, the city's spirit (or spirit-sapping inhumanity), the world of the future and so on. I didn't find much of the entrants particularly enjoyable – I guess there's some merit in having them a recognisable form that a classroom can engage in mimicking ("my city is…" list poems, "my school/family is" ditto, "a city river speaks", etc), but naming no names not even a majority seemed distinguished enough to have come from a professional writer. Like I say, something to have success emulating, perhaps, rather than outright instant pleasure, and it does have no struggle in being the most pro-inclusion, with-the-message read. For my tastes, two stars are about right – for practical use, it has more potential than that suggests though.

I LOVE THIS BOOK.

The cover (and illustrations, in general) is lovely and give me a warm vibe.
I like hoe the poems seem to be raw rather than with a lot of flowery words. I cannot even pick a favorite because I love them all. But I think I like Shareena Satti's poems the best!
I got a glimpse of how the writers think of the surroundings. I was moved by the moving home graphs. The line about "people-friendly city" will forever live in my memory.
I may not live in London, but I can feel the vibe from the poems. I can resonate with the ones that talks about how live as an immigrant be-- coming from different culture and adjusting to the new life.

This is a book I'd recommed to.. everyone! Especially those who are migrants or just recently live in the city.

A wonderfully eclective mix of poetry for young (and old) readers. I loved and appreciated the range of styles, all brought together by a common theme... cities. Loved the section which looked to the future and the range of ideas nestled in there.

I couldn't praise this book enough. This is a book about children settling down in a new country, all the beautiful buildings and communities in a city, all written in beautiful poems complete with adorable illustration. I love this one, will definitely buy a copy when it is out.

This book has a nice concept of cities, different types of cities, around the world described via verse - to be more precise, children of the world, wrote about different themes of city life, what they have seen, where they have visited, of home, and also the future.
To be perfectly honest, while I 100% appreciate the idea, the execution and the art did not impress my child and me.
We could not get into the book as much as we liked, and only finished it to see if the next piece would be more engaging than the previous one.
I can see that this can be enjoyed by many children though.