Small in the City

Written and illustrated by acclaimed children’s book artist Sydney Smith, Small in the City is a poetic and visually stunning story on living in a big city, told from the perspective of a small child. In following a boy all the way from his adventures on a bus, to crossing a busy, traffic-filled street, and then to strolling through a downtown neighbourhood, various morsels of advice for fellow small ones are offered. For instance, walking down a dark alley or near aggressive dogs is not recommended, but asking a fishmonger for a free fish might prove to be a successful enterprise. This latter suggestion is an interesting and seemingly out of context piece of advice, but it provides a clue for the underlying plot of the story when it is later revealed that the boy is searching for his missing cat. Suddenly, the reader gains a new insight on the narrative when it becomes clear that these tidbits of successful city living are actually lovingly meant for the boy’s pet. After hanging up a lost cat poster, the boy makes it home to his mother’s warm arms.

The sparse language marries well with the artistic style, both conveying a sense of urgency. Reflecting the hurried nature of living in an urban setting, figures and buildings are drawn seemingly quickly with ink and then filled in with watercolour, occasionally exceeding the lines and painted with broad, swift brush strokes. Facial expressions are sparse, consistent with the depiction of moving figures. On some pages, Smith has illustrated multiple scenes as cells in comic-book fashion. Small in the City is a feast for the eyes, and readers will want to pause just to closely examine each page. Essential for those who have ever felt intimidated or small in an adult’s world.