Our Green City

Our Green City by Tanya Lloyd Kyi and Colleen Larmour is an invitation to look closer at the places where we live to see all of the green around us, especially those who are city dwellers.

Throughout this book readers spend the day exploring a community and observing the ways the community is green. Farmers markets, kitchens, neighbourhood parks and schools are all visited throughout the day to discover the different ways of being green.

Tanya Lloyd Kyi has created a young reader friendly story to inform readers about the different ways we can all be green. I really, really loved how each two page spread contains detail about a different place in the city and then asks the readers a question making this an interactive nonfiction story. Each question asks the reader to discover something hidden in the illustrations or asks a question so the reader can make connections to their own lives. This lovely story also serves to invite readers to make their own spaces more green by incorporating some of the suggestions in the book.

There is also great information in the story. Ways for readers to incorporate a more environmentally friendly approach to their daily lives. There is a page all about how we commute, how we eat, how things are built, etc. I could easily see educators using this story to talk about the environment and then heading out on a neighbourhood walk to discover the ways their local community uses green initiatives. Tanya Lloyd Kyi leaves readers with a call to action by asking, “Do you have a space where you can be green?” I appreciate how this question asks the readers to think about themselves and again make connections and hopefully inspire more greening activities.

Colleen Larmour’s illustrations are layered and colourful. Through each exploration of this book, something new will emerge from the illustrations. The bright watercolours punctuated by deep ink drawings are so inviting making for an excellent book to share close up and from far away.