My Subway Ride

by Paul DuBois Jacobs, Paul DuBois Jacobs, Jennifer Swender

Waiting for the train
music in the station
bucket drums
steel guitars
the beat and the wait and the rumble-growl
a light in the dark
a floating star
squeak and squeal and screech to the stop
My Subway Ride whisks you through the vivid sounds, sights, and rhythms of the heart of New York City's subway and all the great stops along the way. From the "pitch, smack, home run!" of Yankee Stadium, to the rattle of the Cyclone and the sticky cotton candy on Coney Island, to the pulse of the crowd in Times Square, this book immerses you in the movement of the city. The pulse and beat of the subway train runs throughout the text, and the colorful and bold illustrations give the graphic sense of the subway, from fading train lights, to mosaic tile walls, to colorful graffiti, to a sea of faces. Join the subway station musicians who sing of the train's sound and rhythm as "a pulse, the pulse/a heartbeat/ a jazz riff/ a constant sea/ a mama's belly/ whisking us home."
Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender are a husband-and-wife team living in Brooklyn, New York. Paul has coauthored three books with musician Pete Seeger: Pete Seeger's Storytelling Book, Abiyoyo Returns, and Some Friends to Feed: The Story of Stone Soup. Jennifer is an early childhood educator and curriculum developer. Paul and Jennifer's favorite subway line is the Q train.
Selina Alko lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband who is also an illustrator. Selina studied illustration in New York City at the School of Visual Arts. She has illustrated many educational books for children, including Show and Tell Rose (from McGraw Hill) and Jump Rope (from Bebop Books). Selina loves her daily commute on the subway. Her favorite line is also the Q train.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Picture Books, Poetry, Trains

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 2004

Reviews

[Daphne]

I love the brightly colored, abstract illustrations!

[Theresa Lynch]

There's a definite streak in my desire to make sure the boys know the exciting parts of city life - which they are most definitely NOT getting in Cary, NC. Most likely the connection to my mom - Far Rockaway, Queens born and raised. Also my connection to college days in NY.
This book is beautifully rhythmic. Want to buy for our family collection.

[Joe Sullivan]

I read this every night, and its poetry never ceases to impress me. My daughter recites it readily. The illustrations are also beautiful, and the whole feel of it really does portray that carnival world we find underground in the city.

[Jie]

A poetic book about NYC subway. It is a book that I may never borrow but apparently I don't fully know the taste of MT. He borrowed this book from his school library and offered to read a few paragraphs.

[Anna Lacina]

A poem with a great rhythm and images of NYC subway that definitely capture the excitement kids feel. Julian loves this book. Plus the authors have read at my school several times and they are cool people.

[Jim]

the only thing this book doesn't have is a score, it is musical in words and pictures

[North Landesman]

A bit fancy for my taste.

[diaryofaworm]

This book beautifully illustrates how magical the subway can be through the eyes of a child. I love New York.