Walking in the City with Jane: A Story of Jane Jacobs

Gr 1–3—New Yorkers should know and revere the name of Jane Jacobs, the city's own David, who fought and won against construction Goliath Robert Moses. Jacobs is best remembered in New York for her successful preservation of Washington Square Park in her beloved Greenwich Village neighborhood. This fictionalized picture book biography portrays Jacobs's life as an imaginative child, as well as a dedicated citizen who championed communities and parks over highways and commerce. Boivin's art brings the subject's world to life and excels at portraying the expressiveness and vivacity of Jacobs over the many years. Unfortunately, narrative and content choices limit the strength of this work. The book begins with Jacobs on a stroll alongside historic leaders, blurring the line between fiction and biography. Also, depicting her refusal to brush her teeth as a child is a puzzling choice to portray the basis of her future resistance. Although Jacobs had considerable triumphs in resisting highways and preserving green spaces in both New York and Canada, these are not listed with precise detail with regards to dates and exact locations, a missed opportunity.