A Gambling Man

A girl explores the city she loves. A girl and her father spend a day in the city, their city, traveling to the places they go together. As they do so, the visually impaired girl describes her feelings in delightfully precise and poetic detail. His city, he says, "itches and hits, and drips and runs off." It is both "smelly" and "sweet". His city also speaks, as it "rings and rings and rings and roars." And sometimes, maybe even in some of the best moments, you just listen. A celebration of all there is to appreciate in our environment, just paying attention! A visually impaired girl finds much to celebrate as she explores the city she loves. A girl and her father spend a day in the city, their city, traveling to the places they go together: the playground, the community garden, the market, an open-air concert. As they do so, the girl describes her feelings in delightfully precise and poetic detail. His city, he says, "hurries and stops, and waits and goes." It "stings and hits, and drips and runs off." It makes "echoes" and "trills" and is "smelly" and "sweet." His city also speaks, as it "rings and rings, and vibrates and roars." And sometimes, maybe even in some of the best moments, you just listen. Darren Lebeuf uses his keen observational skills as an award-winning photographer to poetically capture sensory experiences in this enchanting ode to city life. The rhythmic and lyrical text makes for an engaging read aloud. Ashley Barron's vivid color cut paper collage illustrations add compelling visual interest to text descriptions. Although the main character is visually impaired, he travels around the city and enthusiastically enjoys its many offerings, actively contributing to the lyrical bustle of city life by presenting a violin performance in the park. The author's use of limited but evocative language can help children develop aesthetic awareness and can serve as a perfect starting point for children to use their senses to specifically describe and appreciate their own environment.