Nana+in+the+City

// Nana in the City //
 * Book Review By: Julia Lubrano **
 * Author: ** Lauren Castillo
 * Illustrator: ** Lauren Castillo
 * Publisher: ** Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
 * Format: ** Hardcover- $11.02 (Barnes and Noble)
 * ISBN: ** 13: 978-0544104433
 * Reading level: ** Preschool- 3rd Grade
 * Age range: ** 4-7 years
 * Pages: ** 40
 * Language: ** English

This Caldecott 2015 honor book is a story about a young boy who spends a night in the city visiting his nana. The little boy is overwhelmed and scared of the sounds, crowds, and smells of the city. Although the boy loves his nana and loves spending time with her, he does not like the city. Nana makes her grandson an out of the ordinary cape to help him face his fears. Throughout the story, the watercolor illustrations demonstrate how the boy got over his fear and captured the beauty of the city.
 * Summary: **

Personally, I loved reading this book! It was filled with beautiful watercolor pictures to help capture the moments. I also loved the plot of the story. It was easy for me to connect to this book in particular because while growing up, I was close with my Nana. During my own childhood I would have frightful encounters with my fears and my nana would help me face them. I also liked the message of the story. As a child, it is important to learn how to cope with little fears.
 * Book Review: **

Lauren Castillo was born in the United States. She studied illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art and received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts IN New York City. Lauren is known for writing and illustrating children’s books. She has written and illustrated over fourteen books. Her most recent book, Nana in the City was awarded with a 2015 Caldecott Honor. Lauren has also illustrated a few other author’s children’s books as well as her own. She illustrated,Melvin and the Boy, The Reader by Amy Hest, Happy Like Soccer by Maribeth Boelts, Buffalo Music by Tracey Fern and What Happens on Wednesdays by Emily Jenkins. All of her books are are for a younger audience. Her most recent book is Nana in the City. Lauren is currently working on her drawing in Los Angeles, California.
 * About the Author: **

One literary element that stood out the most to me is the illustrations in the the book. The watercolors brought all of the pictures to life. Although Lauren used watercolors, the pictures came out so clear and vivid. It truly felt as if I were in the city with the characters. I also thought it was interesting and I liked how all of the scenes in the books were darkly colored besides Nana and the boy. I am assuming Lauren choose these colors on how the boy perceived it. For an example, the city looked so c=dark and plain, while Nana was brightly colored. This symbolizes how the boy feels. Nana is brightly colored because that is the boy’s comfort zone. I also liked how after Nana gave the boy his cape, the pictures were brightly colored as the boy became more comfortable with the city.
 * Literary Element Analysis: **