Small in the City

It can be a little scary to be small in a big city, but this child has some good advice for a very special friend in need.

Winner of the Ezra Jack Keats Award
A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Book of the Year
Winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal

It can be a little scary to be small in a big city, but it helps to know you’re not alone.

When you’re small in the city, people don’t see you, and loud sounds can scare you, and knowing what to do is sometimes hard. But this little kid knows what it’s like, and knows the neighborhood. And a little friendly advice can go a long way.

Alleys can be good shortcuts, but some are too dark.

Or, there are lots of good hiding places in the city, like under a mulberry bush or up a walnut tree.

And, if the city gets to be too much, you’re always welcome home, where it’s safe and quiet.

Award-winning artist Sydney Smith spins a quiet, contemplative tale about seeing a big world through little eyes. He is the winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international distinction given to authors and illustrators of children’s books.

Winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award
An ALA Notable Children’s Book
A New York Times Best Children’s Book
A Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Book of the Year
An NPR Best Kids Book of the Year
A Capitol Choices Noteworthy Title
A Washington Post Best Children’s Book of the Year
A Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Best Picture Book of the Year
Named a Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, the Horn Book, Shelf Awareness, and many more!
A Booklist Editors’ Choice
A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
Winner of the German Youth Literature Prize

Sydney Smith is an illustrator of picture books whose work includes The White Cat and the Monk by Jo Ellen Bogart; Smoot, A Rebellious Shadow by Michelle Cuevas; Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson; and Town Is By the Sea by Joanne Schwartz, which was awarded the 2018 Kate Greenaway Medal. His accolades include two Governor General’s Awards for Illustrated Children’s Books and four New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year citations. He lives in Toronto, Canada.