“Though aimed at young readers, we think it also works as a great collector’s item for all ages — a keepsake to remember this moment in history (even if you’re just watching from afar, in some place like Wisconsin).”—Rolling Stone
“A stroll through New York’s boroughs with the socialist Indian American immigrant (and onetime hip-hop musician) who could become the city’s next mayor… this sunny ramble extends his campaign walk down the length of Manhattan to include appearances at a Bronx street corner and a Mets game in Queens, a wintry dunk into the ocean at Coney Island in Brooklyn, and a ride on the Staten Island Ferry past (pointedly) the Statue of Liberty… But the book is at least as much a celebration of New York and its residents, and if the streets and parks may not actually be so tidy and spacious as depicted, he and the figures around him in the illustrations represent a realistically diverse cross-section of the city’s populace, its pets and pigeons included. A vibrant walkthrough, equally appealing to locals and visitors.”—Kirkus Reviews
“This playful picture book debut from Von Platen takes inspiration from the 13-mile summer 2025 Manhattan campaign walk of mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. As thin-lined, bold-hued illustrations nod to the look of Mamdani’s much-buzzed-about political poster design—a palette that draws from New York City’s visual culture of bodega signs and yellow cabs—the subject affably strolls, cheers, and occasionally boogies through the city, wearing the same slightly rumpled black suit, blue tie, and blue sneakers. Minimalist text refers warmly to ‘Zohran’s city’ (‘In Zohran’s city, there are new things to do at every crosswalk’), but what emerges in this fond portrait is a bustling metropolis that belongs to all. There, ‘everyone is always on the move’ (Mamdani greets folks beneath an elevated train), but it’s also okay to ‘slow down and listen’ (he sits on a park bench, sipping from the classic New York coffee cup). Even readers beyond the five boroughs will recognize the figure as someone who loves where he lives and believes that every interaction matters.”—Publishers Weekly
“Von Platen’s debut is presented as a love letter to the city she calls home. The book is explicitly inspired by Zohran Mamdani’s notable 13-mile walk during his campaign for New York City mayor, celebrating the idea that Mamdani has walked the streets since childhood and finds new adventures waiting to be had at every corner across all five boroughs. The narrative incorporates biographical details, noting Mamdani’s journey from Uganda and South Africa to Manhattan’s Upper West Side, where he immigrated at age seven, and later his attending the Bronx High School of Science. The illustrations, rendered digitally, capture the vibrancy and kinetic energy of the city, using expressive hand-lettering for the titles.”—School Library Journal
“This is such a nice book. I have a lot of admiration for the protagonist and I also have a lot of affection for the version of NYC that is portrayed here, which is a vibrant and exciting place full of every culture you could imagine. I’m very excited to read this to my kids, it’s got wonderful endearing art and a sweet message that I hope will continue to take hold.”—Reilly Hadden, South Londonderry Free Library, VT
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