City Within a City: 9how Kids Live in New York's Chinatown

These attractive debut titles in the A World of My Own series combine lively photography and simple text to introduce two very different communities. Each book focuses on specific children who live in the area, describing their routines at home, in school and with friends. Emphasis is placed on the joys and problems of participating in two cultures. City , for example, examines how many Chinese young people act as interpreters for immigrant parents, how Americanization affects tradition and how individuals learn to incorporate old attitudes with new opportunities. In The Other Side , three Latino children cope with transitions between their California neighborhood and the Mexican town of Tijuana, where many members of their families still live. Krull ( Lives of the Musicians ) makes skillful use of quotes from the various subjects, allowing their voices and experiences to command center stage. Hautzig's ( DJ's, Ratings, and Hook Tapes ) candid photos tend to emphasize daytime street scenes in City , while The Other Side displays a more dramatic range. Sidebars address additional topics of interest, such as stereotypes, art, food and the history of the communities; helpful maps provide reference. Ages 8-12. (May)