City Streets Are for People, written by Andrea Curtis and illustrated by Emma Fitzgerald. Groundwood Books, 2022. $19.99 ages 10 and up

"Plus, boxing ourselves up inside cars makes 
us inactive and disconnected from one another. 
Traffic accidents are also the leading cause of 
death for kids and young adults. But it doesn't 
have to be this way. 

All over the world, people are reimagining
transit and their cities. We're taking over 
sidewalks to talk and dance, to eat and play. 
We're making room for bike lanes and 
electric scooters. We're building green 
transportation and reclaiming public 
spaces. 

City streets are for people!"

The 'ThinkCities' series is meant to recognize and discuss new ways to make city life better in respect to population growth and increased density, and the effects of climate change. The first two books, A Forest in the City (2020) and City of Water (2021), began the task set for suggesting changes that will affect those who live in any city. This new one looks at ways to move from place to place in our cities with less impact. Cars and trucks fill our city streets, and are harmful to humans and to the environment. Andrea Curtis knows we can make many changes, and she sets out to show us how. 

She begins in the early days when streets were meant for people, and pulled wagons. History tells us that public transportation became popular with the omnibus, that started and stopped where passengers needed to get on, and then off. Next came streetcars, followed by bicycles and smoother roads. Trains, subways and finally, in the early 1900s, cars were introduced. Whoa, did things get louder and even dangerous! Streets needed to be wider, and more space was needed for parking. 

Cities are bigger today, and the climate is suffering. Many world communities are passing laws that help to bring emissions down and get people moving on their own. There is so much material of interest in this wonderfully-researched book that will inform middle grade kids wanting to know more about the changes being made and that can be made. Ms. Curtis's conversational reporting of current data makes it very engaging for her readers.  

Emma FitzGerald sketches her images with energy and detail that shows people of all ages out walking, cycling, and finding ways to get from one place to another without a car. Perspectives change and entertain. 

"How we move around - to school and work and 
everywhere in between - plays a big role in whether
our cities run smoothly or are all tangled in traffic
and frustration. After all, the design of streets, 
sidewalks, bike lanes and transit hubs shapes 
every aspect of our lives." 

A final spread is titled "I like to move it!" It offers ways to promote sustainable transportation and gives suggestions for how we can help make that happen. A glossary and a list of useful resources follow.