This Is Paris

This Is Paris takes readers on a visual journey through the French capital in the late 1950s, documenting the city's landmarks, culture, and daily life. The book combines detailed illustrations with straightforward text to create a portrait of Paris through a child's eyes. The narrative moves through neighborhoods and famous sites, introducing everything from the Eiffel Tower to local street scenes and cafe life. M. Sasek's illustrations capture both the grand architecture and small details of Parisian existence with precision and charm. Through its presentation of Paris, the book stands as both a historical document and an enduring celebration of what makes the city unique. The work manages to convey complex cultural information to young readers while maintaining a sense of wonder about its subject matter.

Readers praise the retro art style and architectural details in Sasek's illustrations of 1950s Paris. Parents note the book introduces children to Parisian landmarks and culture while maintaining their interest through playful visuals. What readers liked: - Accurate building details and cityscapes - Balance of facts and whimsical illustrations - Historical snapshot of mid-century Paris - Color palette captures city's atmosphere What readers disliked: - Some outdated cultural references - Text can be dense for very young children - Price point of recent reprints Ratings: Goodreads: 4.27/5 (464 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (156 ratings) Sample review quotes: "The illustrations make you feel like you're walking through 1950s Paris" - Goodreads reviewer "My 5-year-old loves finding details in each scene" - Amazon reviewer "Perfect for teaching kids about Paris before a family trip" - Amazon reviewer

A Walk in Paris by Salvatore Rubbino A child's journey through Paris captures the monuments, markets, and daily life of the city through detailed illustrations and facts presented in a similar style to Sasek's work.

A Walk in London by Salvatore Rubbino The book follows a mother and child exploring London's landmarks with architectural details and cultural observations that reflect Sasek's observational approach.

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans The story presents Paris through the eyes of a young girl, featuring illustrations of the city's architecture and street scenes with attention to detail reminiscent of Sasek's cityscapes.

Katie in London by James Mayhew A magical tour of London combines real locations with storytelling through artwork that documents the city's landmarks and culture.

City Atlas by Martin Haake The book explores multiple cities through detailed illustrations and cultural facts that echo Sasek's method of capturing urban environments.

🗼 Originally published in 1959, this beloved children's book was part of Sasek's "This Is..." series, which featured cities around the world and helped introduce young readers to international travel and culture. 🎨 Miroslav Sasek created all the illustrations using a distinctive mid-century modern style, capturing Paris landmarks in bold colors and playful geometric shapes that influenced many contemporary illustrators. 📚 The 2004 reissue includes a special "This Is...Paris Today" section that updates readers on how featured locations have changed since the book's original publication. 🇨🇿 Though Sasek masterfully captured the essence of Paris, he was actually Czech, born in Prague in 1916. He fled his homeland during the Communist takeover and settled in Munich, where he began his celebrated children's book career. 🏆 The book won the New York Times Choice of Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year award and has been translated into multiple languages, helping generations of children worldwide discover the magic of Paris.