1. Parenting & Family

Discuss in my forum

City Signs

About.com Rating 4 Star Rating
Be the first to write a review

By , About.com Guide

Cover art of City Signs children's picture bookKid Can Press

Fun With Words and City Signs

City Signs: An Overview

Photojournalist Zoran Milich has created a delightful book< City Signs, which, as the title indicates, is based on city signs. As children become aware that words mean something, they enjoy discovering words on street signs, on all kinds of vehicles, in store windows, on businesses, in parks, and in a variety of other outdoor settings. Playing word games with your children is a great way to get them excited about words and reading. It is particularly exciting when the setting provides a cue for the nonreader that allows the child to successfully identify the word. This is an excellent book for children ages 3-6 and older.

Zoran Milich's City Signs provides page after page of opportunities (30 photographs in all) for children to have fun talking about pictures and identifying the word or words in them. The photographs all feature things that appeal to children, from horses and ice cream cones to pizza and a fire station. You'll be surprised and delighted at the responses you get when you ask your child to explain what is happening in each photograph.

City Signs: The Phtography

The quality of Milich's photography is excellent. That he has a sense of humor is evident. Among my family's favorite photographs are the "RAILROAD CROSSING" sign in front of a miniature railroad for children and the horse standing right next to the "HORSES" sign. Some of his photographs not only show the words but also illustrate specific actions, such as "push," "pull," "exit," and "enter."

City Signs: My Recommendation

You will want to share City Signs with your children for a variety of reasons, including:
  • enjoyment
  • to encourage imaginative storytelling
  • to excite your children about words and reading
  • to teach them to look for context clues to help identify words
  • to discuss everyday life in the city.
I recommend City Signs for children 3 to 6, as well as older children who are learning English or are struggling with reading. (Kids Can Press, 2002. ISBN: 9781553370031)
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.