The Streets Are Free

Krystyna J. Higgins is the book review editor of the Toronto-based
Catholic New Times.

This new edition of a book originally translated from the Spanish a
decade ago is a somewhat unusual and thoughtful addition to a child’s
library. Set in the barrio of San José de la Urbina in Caracas,
Venezuela, and based on a true story, it recounts the efforts of a group
of children to acquire a playground. Undeterred by such obstacles as
dubious or too-busy parents and procrastinating politicians, the
children succeed in bringing a community together to work for a common
cause.

The children’s dilemma and their resourceful attempts to arrive at a
solution are presented in a way that subtly underlines the links between
them and the reader rather than the differences of culture or
circumstance.

The book is illustrated in a simple, coloring-book style that suits the
tone of the text. Colored illustrations alternate with black-and-white
ones.

The translation seems somewhat pedestrian on occasion, but this may be
a deliberate attempt to reflect the simplicity of the original Spanish
text. Recommended.