A Big City ABC    by Allan Moak Order:  USA  Can Tundra, 2002 (1984) Hardcover     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson The cover makes me smile as the island ferry is such a familiar and beloved symbol of Toronto life. But though this picture book is based on a particular city seen through children's eyes, its busy scenes are reminiscent of many major centers in North America. Allan Moak gives us an affectionate, child-centered picture of urban life from 'A is for Art' (showing kids playing outside the Art Gallery of Ontario) to 'Z is for Zoo' in which children paint a colorful mural of zoo animals. There's also a baseball game, a castle, a deli, an excavation, fireworks, a greenhouse, horses, the island ferry, a junk store, kites flying, a lifeguard, the market, a neighborhood, an October scene, a park, the queen's statue, a rink, the science center, a tugboat, umbrellas, a variety store, winter, the Ex (summer exhibition and midway), and Yuletide (with Santa on a roof!) At the back is a brief introduction to the featured city - Toronto, Ontario - with a paragraph of background information on each of the pages of this delightful picture book. A Big City ABC ends with a gorgeous sunset skyscape of the city seen from a canoe in the water. It's a wonderful picture book for exploring city life with children - either those already familiar with it or rural kids who want to know more - and is a must read for kids who live in Toronto or plan to visit it. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews