Under New York

by Linda Oatman High, Robert Rayevsky (Illustrator)

What goes on right under people's feet? A lot more than you'd imagine! This striking picture book depicts New York and the fascinating, bustling world that exists beneath its streets.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 2001

Reviews

[Sarah Sammis]

http://pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2016...

[Christie Kaaland]

This unusual concept book pairs High with Russian-born illustrator Rob Rayevsky to offer a stark look at what exactly is "underfoot" as one walks the streets of New York City. Read it twice. Once, for the words: a simply above-below list of what's there (above: offices, skyscrapers, pigeons; below: pipes, wires, water...as well as trains, jazz bars, and even an alligator once). Go through again just looking at the pictures. Most of Rayevsky's messy, bold, mixed-media, double-page-spread illustrations are split horizontally perfectly depicting the above-and-below chaos and cacophony that is NYC. His thick, black-outlined illustration style make people pop off the pages through simple lined expression. More of Rayevsky, please! Searching, I notice he did a re-illustration of Margaret Wise Brown's THE SLEEPY MAN which now I must order). Wouldn't those two make a pair?!

[Syntha Green]

Quite an excellent look at what goes on under people's feet in NYC

[Jenny Wright]

I almost felt like the author could turn this book into a series of books about the many one time tpoics mentioned on each page. For example, you could devote an entire book to how the elephants use a tunnel, or the alligator found in the 30's, a an entire children's book about the extensive subway system and highlight all burrows or just a few beloved neighborhoods.

[Matthew]

This was a sparing poem about the layers of New York that revealed a lot of researchable topics with just enough information to keep the readers interest. This was a very enjoyable story, though the illustrations aren't really my favorite style.

[Russell]

Captures the feeling of a pre-9/11 NYC well, with recognizable landmarks interspersed through the pages. Though I'd like to know more about these underground jazz clubs and restaurants that operate under animals.

[Sara]

lots of cool details about cities and utilities. very readable.

[Joey Gremillion]

I would imagine that not many NY'ers realize what's going on, below the city. water, gas, steam, telephone and power lines, subways and sewers. Perfect for NY (or South Florida) kinderlech.