THIS IS OUR CITY

In this follow-up to This Is a Window (2024), a backyard is transformed into a vibrant city as a group of children come together for a day of play.

Creating a sign labeled “Cat Pine Falls,” the little ones jump into action. Conrad ably conveys children’s limitless creativity: Acorns become currency, a flipped-over kiddie pool turns into a table at a cafe, trees serve as skyscrapers, and the dangly branches of a weeping willow act as a car wash. Each illustration feels like a freeze frame from an actual day. An image of the “school,” for instance, contains an assortment of items: small sticks tied together, larger sticks resting on an angle against a log, and an overturned watering can. Nothing is labeled, leaving plenty of space for readers to imagine whatever they see—could those larger sticks be a slide? The children vary in skin tone and hair color; all have the same expression, tiny black eyes, and a curve for a smile, making clear their happiness. Consisting largely of simple shapes and blocks of color, the illustrations have an appealing, two-dimensional feel; visual interest will be high, and kids will enjoy picking out details in the art.

A winsome foray into a world of pure imagination.