To the City

About the Book

Roberta and William have been putting their winter food in storage—apples, potatoes, and squash, to name a few. After a hard day’s work, they have decided to reward themselves with an overnight trip to the city.

They keep an Adventure Book, going to special places from A to Z. They’ve worked their way up to P, so they’ll make a special trip while in town to eat at the Plazia restaurant. Roberta and William have a list of exactly what they need and want to do while they’re in the city—time for shopping and fun. A life-threatening event begins their trip, but when things go well, they go really well. On their way home, a shortcut on the scenic route takes them to an unexpected place and causes an unusual purchase.

In this children’s book, a couple goes to the city to spend some time shopping and having fun, but end up having quite an adventure.

This illustrated verse features an appendix of facts about key elements in the story to initiate self-guided learning. A second appendix, STRETCH2SMART, is an interactive experience to help parents make reading fun for their children.

About the Author

Mary Jane Zakas has been an educator for more than thirty years, teaching all grades in both rural and urban settings. She holds degrees in elementary education, counseling, and administration. She participated in writing the standards for No Child Left behind in Nevada.

Illustrator Roberta Jean Owen has been a painter for more than fifty years. She works quickly, using decisive, almost reflective strokes with a minimum of color to express her philosophy to be honest and natural in painting. Some of her work is on permanent display at the libraries in Arvin, Lamont, and Frazier Park, California.