The City Kid & the Suburb Kid

By Deb Pilutti, Linda Bleck (Illustrator)

Two boys swap lives, discovering the allure and longing of home.

4.0/7 Bookroo expert·3.8/5 Goodreads · 104 ratings

38 pages· 667 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud

$14.95Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon.

Bookroo's summary

Jack and Adam swap city and suburb lives, each eager for a change. Jack relishes the quiet of the suburbs, while Adam dives into city excitement. Yet, both soon yearn for the comforts they left behind. As they explore new adventures, they learn that home holds a unique charm. Will they find contentment in their own worlds, or will the grass always seem greener elsewhere? This tale of discovery and appreciation unfolds from two perspectives, inviting readers to see life through different eyes.

From the publisher

The grass may seem greener on the other side—but in the end there’s no place like home. That’s what two boys discover in this fresh and contemporary version of Aesop’s timeless “The City Mouse and the Country Mouse.” And it’s a great value, because the tale is told twice. When kids are done with one half, they simply flip the book over for a different side of the story!

Jack can’t wait to spend a week with Adam in the suburbs. No more honking horns! No more hot and noisy subways! And he does enjoy the tree climbing, fishing, and triple-dipped cones. But soon he starts wondering what’s happening with his friends back in the city.

And when it’s Adam’s turn to visit, he happily leaves behind his annoying sister and lawns that need mowing: hello, skyscrapers, skateboards, and shopping downtown! Then, just like Jack, he begins to miss all the familiar things he took for granted.

Deb Pilutti’s witty writing emphasizes the similarities in the boys’ lives, while Linda Bleck’s vividly-colored pictures cleverly play up the differences. The result: a book that children will read—and love—again and again.

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