RACCOON-FISH, SLIME ANIMALS AND KUNG FU PIGEONS

Word-Play's Writing the City features Urban Life / overlooked through March

Urban Life/overlooked is an art and writing project from the kids of Word-Play’s Writing in the City after-school creative writing workshop. A world of creatures exists in our metropolis, some we notice, most we do not — until they dig a hole under the porch, nest on the balcony, root around in the compost bin. But what if the city is as much theirs as it is our own

Word-Play is a community-based non-profit run out of TYPE books at our Queen West store. The organization works with elementary-school children to foster a love of reading and writing. All their programs are offered free of charge.

A store window collaboration between author and illustrator Kyo Maclear and the kids of Word-Play will be up all month in the TYPE window.

Investigating a world that exists below and above human radar, the Writing in the City kids have discovered a surprising ecosystem of raccoon-fish hybrids, puppies merged with kittens, slime animals that hide beneath your discarded gum wrappers — even Kung Fu pigeons.

Working with Word-Play staff, volunteers and Kyo Maclear, author of the acclaimed memoir Birds Art Life, as well as many celebrated children’s books, Writing in the City kids have created a window display that features their stories, paintings and sculptures representing an astonishing never-before-seen world. Check out the creatures in the TYPE books window and read the kids’ stories all through March at the Queen Street store.