Wild City by Ashwin Chacko is a lovely story all about the adventures of Lily and Tom. Lily and Tim decide to go on day trip to Dublin city. However this is no ordinary day trip. Lily and Tim use their ‘secret superpowers’ to turn some familiar sights and sounds around Dublin into exciting new sights and sounds.
This story shows how anything is possible with a bit of imagination. The story aims to encourage children to ignore their devices and explore their outside environment.
The pages in the story are full of bright, colourful artwork reminiscent of urban street art. The pictures are full of detail and give ample opportunity for discussion. Embedded in the story are questions which prompt the reader to draw on their own general knowledge about a range of topics including dinosaurs, sea creatures and rockets.
I think this book would be best suited to pupils in First and Second Class. The pages in the story are not overloaded with words, and a rhyming chant about the wonders of the city is repeated throughout the story.
‘Wild City’ would also be an excellent S.E.S.E. resource for teachers particularly those interested in teaching about the sights and sounds of Dublin in a fun and accessible way.
‘Wild City’ is bursting with imagination and a real enjoyable read. I would rate it 10/10.
By Mary McMahon: Scoil Chliodhna CNS, Carraigtwohill, Co. Cork.
“Wild City” by Ashwin Chacko, published by O’Brien Press, is on sale now for €14.99 (H/B).
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher, O’Brien Press, free of charge to Seomra Ranga for the purposes of this review.
