City Nights

PreS-Gr 1—In this urban nighttime story, a young child is lulled to sleep by the joyful cacophony of a bustling city. Raccoons scavenge in trash cans, taxi horns honk, children run home from the playground, and adults mingle at a jazz club—all depicted through vivid mixed-media collage artwork, subtle movements, and well-placed sound effects.The app's interactive features include animations triggered by a touch or a swipe, and as described in the text, users can make a skateboard roll or a shoe tap. The effect is engaging. As with most children's book apps, users have two options. "Read to me" offers a soothing narration. In that mode, the text is highlighted as the story is read—a feature that somewhat awkwardly remains in the "Read to myself" option, giving children the impression that they are constrained by the narrator's cadence. Though ethnicities aren't explicitly identified, the main character, illustrated by Natalia Morley Russell, is tan-skinned, curly-haired, and gender-neutral, making it easy for all young readers to imagine themselves in these scenarios. This app, which may spark discussion with young children about city life and the various environments people inhabit, will be a welcome addition to nighttime routines.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA