Zohran Walks New York

PreS-Gr 3–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. The content ties specific NYC locations to political advocacy. For example, Mamdani’s participation in the Polar Bear Plunge at Coney Island (Brooklyn) on New Year’s Day 2025 is directly linked to his call to freeze rent. Similarly, a stop at a Manhattan halal food cart is highlighted alongside his advocacy for fair grocery prices. Other scenes in the book show cheering on the Mets at Citi Field in Queens and enjoying the accessible Staten Island Ferry.