The City Sings Green & Other Poems About Welcoming Wildlife

Place-based poetry extols cities that have undertaken rewilding efforts in this uplifting poetry collection from Silverman. Varied verse and accompanying explanatory prose profiles metropolitan eco-efforts such as a bee highway in Oslo, Norway; a beach cleanup in Mumbai, India; a possum rope bridge in Busselton, Australia; and a penguin tunnel in Oamaru, New Zealand. A titular poem sets the tone with rhythmic stanzas spoken from the perspective of a nameless city that urges “Green me,” “Clean me,” “Rewild me.” Silverman pens some pieces from the perspective of wildlife (“In your rivers and on your shores—/ We are the stars of Singapore”), while others narrate human conservation efforts (“In this oasis that we made,/ we watched them arrive”). Colorful wildflowers, googly eyed animals, and budding environmentalists of different skin tones populate Hsu’s smudgy acrylic gouache and digital paintings, which amplify the inspirational examples featured. Further resources conclude. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)