Picture Books with City Kids

Kids are naturally drawn to city stuff. Dump trucks, tall buildings, elevators, sirens and even the wheels on the bus are all pretty exciting when you're a kid.

​But have you ever noticed that kids books typically feature families growing up in a house in the suburbs? Regardless of where you live, it's a refreshing change to read about a family growing up in a city. 

The opening page of the Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss

"The first place I belong is my house in the city."
- Line 35, Germano Zullo, illustrated by Albertine

We were inspired by a Next City post from a few years ago that featured picture books about life in the big city, so we decided to build on Anna Clark's list and add a few of our favorites books with kids (and kid-like animals) growing up in an urban environment.

These books feature apartment buildings, public transit, folks walking to get places, neighborhood retail, activism and even some great public spaces.  Find these books at your local public library, the Oakland Museum of California Store or your favorite independent bookstore:  

Books with an Oakland Connection

• A is for Activist, A de Activista and Counting on Community - by Innosanto Nagara
• ABC Oakland - by Michael Wertz Writer
• My City is Oakland - by Kamaria Lofton, Illustrated by Steven Anderson
• A City for Children - Women, Architecture, and the charitable landscapes of Oakland, 1850-1950 - Marta Gutman 
• One Crazy Summer - by Rita Williams-Garcia 
• Master of Mindfulness: How to Be Your Own Superhero in Times of Stress - by Laurie Grossman, Mr. Musumeci's 5th Grade Class, Angelina Alvarez (Contributor), Jon Kabat-Zinn (Foreword) 
• The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook - by Joanne Rocklin

Other Books with City Kids

• Apt. 3 - by Ezra Jack Keats
• Book of Cities - by Piero Ventura​
• Busy Busy Town - Richard Scarry
• City Block - by Christopher Franceschelli, Illustrations by Peskimo  
• Corduroy - Don Freeman
• Curious George - created by Margret and H.A. Rey
• Good Morning City - by Pat Kiernan, Illustrated by Pascal Campion  
• Good Night San Francisco - by Adam Gamble, Illustrated by Santiago Cohen  
• Juna's Jar - By Jane Bahk, Illustrated by Felicia Hoshino
• Last Stop Market Street  - By Matt De La Pena, Illustrated by Christian Robinson  
• Lakas and the Manilatown Fish - by Anthony Robles, Illustrated by Carl Angel
• Line 135 - by Germano Zullo, Illustrated by Albertine
• Madlenka - by Peter Sis
• Madeline - Written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans
• One Monday Morning by Uri Shulevitz 
• Paddington Bear - by Michael Bond
• The Brownstone - by Paula Scher
• The Condo Kids - by Jackie Burns
• Tar Beach  - by Faith Ringgold
• They City Kid and the Suburb Kid - by Deb Pilutti, Linda Bleck  
• Ultimate Book of Cities - by Anne-Sophie Baumann, Illustrated by Didier Balicevic
• Umbrella by Taro Yashima
• Where Things are from Near to Far - Tim Halbur and Editor Chris Steins, illustrations by artist David Ryan
• Wild Ones: Observing City Creatures - by Carol L. Malnor, Illustrated by Cathy Morrison

Other Books

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What are your favorite stories featuring families in cities?
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