From the time she was a young girl, Jane Jacobs' curious mind made her a
keen observer of everything around her. When she grew up, she moved to
New York City, a place full of new wonders for her to explore. It was
there she realized that, just like in nature, a city is an ecosystem.
"It is made of different parts --- sidewalks, parks, stores,
neighborhoods, City Hall . . . and people, of course. When they all work
together, the city is healthy." So, when city planner Robert Moses
proposed creating highways through the city that would destroy
neighborhoods and much of what made New York great, Jane decided she
couldn't let it happen. She stood up to the officials and rallied her
neighbors to stop the plans ---and even got arrested! Jane's bravery and
ideas had a huge influence on urban planning that is still being felt
today.
In this lively and engaging informational picture book, award-winning
author Susan Hughes provides a fictionalized story of the life of Jane
Jacobs, one of the world's greatest urban thinkers and activists. This
book makes a terrific resource for studying civic engagement, urban
life, the history of New York and Toronto (where Jane moved later in
life), and the role of city planning. Jane's inspirational story is also
an excellent example for character education lessons on perseverance,
citizenship and initiative. Stylized illustrations by Valérie Boivin
perfectly evoke the story's time and place. End matter includes a brief
biography of Jane Jacobs.
