Urban Playground: What Kids Say About Living in San Francisco

by Katie Burke

Rural areas cover 97 percent of the United States―yet more than 80 percent of the US population lives in urban areas. What is life like for the millions of children who populate our nation’s cities?

In Urban Playground, Katie Burke interviews fifty children, ages five to nine, who live in San Francisco. In each conversation, she explores one of ten different themes―family, school, pets, vacation, work, heroes, holidays, favorite foods, talents, and sports―followed by insights on the topic. She rounds out each segment with five questions for adults and kids to discuss after they’ve read it together, encouraging open, honest dialogue about young readers’ thoughts on the subject matter at hand. Future books in the series will expand into other major U.S. cities. Fun, accessible, and interactive, Urban Playground is an important window into the ways children in cities think about and describe the most important aspects of their lives―which is every aspect of their lives!

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2020

Reviews

[Tonja Drecker]

Adults might think they know all about San Francisco, but this book shows what kids see and think about the exciting city. And their thoughts bring several surprises.

Fifty kids, ages five to nine, were interviewed about what living in San Francisco means to them. Some discuss family, others about being a hero, and some about simple things like eating ice cream. There's mention of the Golden Gate Bridge, parks and other sights as well as issues such as homelessness. After each answer, there's a section entitled 'Insights from the Urban Playground', in which highlights about San Francisco and the child's answer are presented with more information. Finally, there's a list of questions which can be used in discussions surrounding various topics and thoughts mentioned in each child's answer.

This book offers a new perspective and insight into San Francisco. Especially those who live there, fans of the city, and those planning on visiting it will find these pages interesting. The thoughts and feelings are very personal and give a fresh view into what it is like to live in this city. Each of the fifty answers comes across with lovely honesty.

The text is easy to understand and fitting for young readers. Each topic and reasoning of the interviewed children will ring true to young readers and hit upon aspects which truly interest them...and not only those which adults think they'll be curious about. While all fifty answers might be a bit much for young readers to digest, and I'm not sure how each and every one could ever completely be used in a discussion, each one is just as interesting as the last. Even adults will enjoy taking in the well-known city from this different point of view, and learn things they'd never thought about before.

I received an ARC and loved the fresh idea...so interesting!

[Karen Kittle]

What a delightfully entertaining book this is! I had a smile on my face continually as I read it. It is full of wonder, imagination and hopefulness. It's also a great way to learn about San Francisco and it's many neighborhoods. This book is the perfect gift to give anyone you know who is moving to SF or, actually, who already lives there. Great read for all ages.

[Ellen Whitfield]

Funny, smart, and open -- I loved learning more and San Francisco, and how kids think in general! The questions were also fun to pose to my daughter and helped me think of new ways to talk to her, and find out what's going on in her head!

[Scott James]

San Francisco as seen through the eyes of its youngest denizens. More than just an insider’s guide to places parents should take their kids in the city, Katie Burke’s stories are a revelation about the lives, imaginations and dreams of our future generation. Kids really do say the darndest things.