New York State of Mind

Newcomer Izak's full-bleed watercolor spreads charmingly dramatize songwriter Joel's ode to New York City, from the perspective of a wide-eyed, red kerchief–wearing small brown dog. The canine narrator rides a bus over the George Washington Bridge and along the Hudson River, before proceeding on foot past a tableau of familiar Manhattan sights. Discreet labels on the paintings' edges identify the Theater District (where Joel's Movin' Out appears on a marquis), Lincoln Center, Chinatown and more. For "Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens," the pooch appears under the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, and "But I know what I'm needing/ And I don't want to waste more time" depicts the narrator's initial encounter in front of the Plaza Hotel with a red ribbon–wearing Cocker Spaniel. A somber palette of brown and gray provides a welcome counterbalance to the cuteness of the dogs as, for instance, they walk in the rain under a copy of the Daily News by the steps of the Metropolitan Museum or "let it slide" on the ice of Wollman Rink. This book makes Joel's song (a compact disk recording is included) accessible to a new generation, while Izak's truly lovely portraits will serve both as an introduction to Manhattan, and as a visual tribute for those who already love New York. Ages 4-8. (Nov.)