My City Speaks

My City Speaks tells two complementary stories. The text, sparse and poetic, is an ode to the protagonist’s city, a city that can be experienced through its sounds, smells, and taste. This first-person account is precise and evocative though it does not identify characters (including the protagonist), plot, or action. Instead, it is the illustrations that provide this narrative, showing a visually-impaired girl (indicated by her white and red cane) journeying through a bustling, multicultural city with her father. On their walk, the girl partakes in city life: she mails a letter, waters a garden, and plays at a playground. The characters’ destination is an outdoor stage where the girl plays her violin (carried by her father throughout) to an appreciative crowd.

These two narratives form a harmonious whole. The sparse text is complemented by the vibrant illustrations. Rendered in cut-paper collage, watercolor, acrylic, and pencil crayon, the pictures are colourful and textured, often feeling almost tactile. The details are thoughtful and lovely, from keys on a hook, to a canoe on the top of a car, to a cat in a carrier on the subway. These details allow the city’s vibrancy to spring to life on the pages, and, though the girl cannot see, she is not missing out; she is simply experiencing the city differently. With the help of her other senses and her cane, the girl is able to navigate this space. It is her city, and the first person pronouns of the text centre the girl and her specific experience of it. The city is a hospitable place, and her experiences are as rich as everyone else’s. The girl has spent her journey listening to the city, and the ending, in which the city listens to her, is a satisfying conclusion.

Though simple at first glance, My City Speaks is a nuanced and rich text that can be a great conversation starter on differently-abled people, the importance of paying attention, and the senses.