The Mayor of Central Park

by Avi, Brian Floca (Illustrator)

To look at Oscar Westerwit, you might think, Hey, just another New York City squirrel. Only thing is, you'd be wrong. . . . For Oscar, life is good in New York City in the year 1900. He's the Mayor of Central Park -- the greatest place on earth for the squirrels, chipmunks, mice, and other animals who live there. He's the manager of his baseball team, the Central Park Green Sox, and shortstop, too. What could be bad? Plenty, that's what! Big Daddy Duds, jewel thief, all-round thug, and leader of rats, is about to invade the park with five hundred of his closest friends. And when he does, the other animals who live there will be turned out of their homes. Everyone looks to the Mayor to save them, but he may not even be able to save himself from the invaders.   The Mayor of Central Park is a rich and fragrant evocation of old New York, with a community of animals who are as lively as characters in a Damon Runyon story, brought to life in a blend of humor and heartbreak that is vintage Avi.

Genres: Fantasy, Animals, Childrens, Audiobook, Fiction, Animal Fiction, Chapter Books

208 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 2003

About the author

Avi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Nothing but the Truth, and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.

Reviews

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was something of a Romeo and Juliet story but with animals and set in Central Park in 1900. And with a happy ending! This book was actually the second book I marked in GoodReads as "want to read" and it took me almost 8 years to get to it. I shouldn't have waited so long, it's very charming!

I also have to say that the narrator of the audiobook did an absolutely AMAZING job! He really brought the characters to life in the most charming possible way.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very cute story that I would recommend as a read-aloud for young children. It is a daring story of the bravery and struggles of a little squirrel who is the "mayor" of Central Park. I do think that it is a unique idea for a story that I don't think I could have ever come up with. I probably won't go looking for books like this, but, all and all, it was nice.

[D3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is slightly odd: it uses a strong American accent, it shows an animals inhabiting a city that exists, it uses baseball terms to the extent that non-baseball-fans can hardly understand anything, and I’m sure it makes up some phrases. Overall this book was very odd

PS: COULD SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE BOOK MEANS BY “FLAT SAP”?!

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A parable of criminals in New York.

[Kyla Stan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

Such a cute novel from Avi. As a fellow New Yorker, I loved reading about the animals with accents :D

[Stuart Levy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. If you can handle books with animals that dress up and act like people, go for it. But I can't.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Too heavy handed in writing in period slang. Couldn't take it.

[Kerri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this story rather odd. All of the characters are anthropomorphized animals living in their own world in Central Park complete with clothes, homes, and weapons. However, many such books create a setting that either makes this believable or explains how the animals arrived in this position. (Think Cricket in Times Square which explains how the cricket came to be there and makes it clear that humans exist and do not know the animals can talk.) Instead, this book simply dives into a gangster story where rats take over part of Central Park and attempt to drive all the other animals out. In addition, there is a baseball theme running through the book. As I read the book I felt as though the story was really written as a parable for an historical event with which I was unfamilar. Overall, I did not find this an enjoyable read. My son indicated that he would be interested in other books with the main character, Oscar Westerwit - a squirrel, but was not at all interested in another book by the author on the shelf, Ragweed. I believe we would both rate this a 3 if 3 starts was ok. But, because 3 starts is "liked it" I chose to give it 2 stars.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mayor of Central Park (Avi, 2003c) is a humorous animal fantasy with a historical fiction bent. Set in the early 1900’s the story is about Oscar, a squirrel and first-rate baseball player, is recognized by the other animals as the Mayor of Central Park. There is no place Oscar likes better than here in his beautiful park where squirrels, chipmunks, mice and others live peacefully together. Then a gang of rats invades and takes over Central Park. Some of the animals try to please both the rats and their neighbors, but when it becomes apparent that there is no living with them, it is up to Oscar to save his beloved park and find a way to dislodge the rats.
The book would be appropriate for upper elementary students in lessons about friendship, bullying and stereotyping. Such topics could be covered in a 4th grade language arts (PASS 3.2c) lesson on critical literacy by making inferences and drawing conclusions about characters’ qualities and actions.

[Terry]

Teen Reader: The sounds of a heavy Brooklyn accent jump right off the page. You can't help but sound (in your head) like a New Yorker from the 1920s as you read this book. The language made it all the more fun. I didn’t think it was necessary to have a narrator, but I enjoyed his narration all the same. I liked that a quiet, competent, thinker like Maud ended up saving the day using a skill she didn’t care for to help those for whom she did.

I think Avi’s books are better in groups because once you read one you’ll want to read similar ones.. Visit the Reading Tub to see reviews of other Avi books.

[Isabelle.n.c · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good book for people who want to read an action-packed and funny story. The Mayor of Central Park has a story that also relates to kids in the sixth grade. The main character is well liked (and considered the unofficial "mayor." He is a sqirrel named Oscar who tries to help people and likes to play baseball. There is also a rat named Big Daddy Duds who scares people into liking him. He is a big bully and tries to take over the park and Oscar's home (a tree). The characters use a New Jersey accent. The Mayor of Central Park also is one of my faverit books to read.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style was great--this is a book you read for the author's choice of words, which are frequently funny and often alliterative. The plot wasn't as interesting, although it did raise the question of what to do about bullies who have vastly superior firepower. Sub-themes include cowardice, the need for a plan in order to win a battle (hope is still not a strategy), and betrayal. It could be a discussion-starter, but as a read-alone it was only average.

[Jenifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max (11) Gave this a two. He is thinking that reading time is not that much fun. He doesn't really like to pick up a book by himself either, so I don't take this personally.

Amelia and I give it a three. It was so fun to read about the Ball Park, Bethesda Fountain Terrace, and "Downtown". We've been there!

[Ginnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertain story of animals in New York City when baseball was just becoming America's sport. Oscar the squirrel has to go up against the rats of downtown who take over Central Park, kicking animals out of their homes. Then he meets the gang leaders daughter, Maud, and finds out not all rats are bad.

Charming and fanciful.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

My mom is an elementary school teacher, and I helped her out by reading this book for her to see if it would be something her class might enjoy reading. Perhaps if I were a fourth grader I might have enjoyed it more.

[Caroline]

read it was great

[Evanl710 · Rating 3 out of 5]

a funny animal book woth some action in parts

[Kieryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of boring, a bit confusing. I liked it, but it wasn't my fave.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a good book because it is about baseball and animals going to war! I think it has a lot of action.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyable with a cute (albeit gimmick-y) style. Some aspect of that style got to be annoying to me, but it was a fun read that reminded me that Avi is awesome!:)

[Aayin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't think the Mayor of Central Park was very good because it was fairly boring in my opinion. My friend also said she found it rather boring when she read it.

[Mya · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is great for kids. it is exiting and is all about cute cuddly animals that need help

[Pexify]

Exciting and it was about baseball, love the sport!