Keeping the City Going
Book Summary:
Keeping the City Going shows how essential workers kept New York City functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The book follows doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, delivery drivers, transit operators, and many others whose work supported the community during a difficult time. Through detailed illustrations, the story highlights cooperation, resilience, and the many people whose daily efforts sustain a city.
Recommended Questions:
What kinds of workers helped keep the city running during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Choose one job shown in the book and explain how the city might be affected if that worker were not able to do their job.
Is there an essential worker recommend the author add to this book?
What risks did many essential workers take while continuing to do their jobs during the pandemic? Why do you think they continued working despite those risks?
How did different workers—such as healthcare staff, sanitation workers, transit operators, and delivery drivers—depend on one another to keep the city functioning?
What role did public systems such as hospitals, transportation, and sanitation play in keeping communities running during COVID-19?
Why is it important for governments and communities to support workers who provide essential services during emergencies?
What does the story teach us about the many different people it takes to keep a city operating every day?
How can communities show appreciation and support for essential workers who help keep society functioning?
Think about your own community. What workers help keep your town or city running each day? What might happen if those services stopped? What are some ways people can show appreciation for the work they do?
NCSS Theme 7: Production, Distribution, and Consumption
This book illustrates how different jobs and services work together to keep a city functioning. The story highlights the systems that provide goods, transportation, health care, and sanitation to communities. Students learn how economic roles and labor contribute to meeting society’s needs.
Social Justice Anchor Standard 15: History of social justice
Keeping the City Going highlights the essential workers who continued serving their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, often taking on additional health risks so cities could continue to function. These workers—including healthcare professionals, sanitation crews, transit operators, and delivery workers—demonstrate how individuals and groups contribute to the well-being of society during difficult times. The book encourages students to recognize the important role essential workers play in maintaining communities and supporting the common good.
WA Economics 3: Understands the government’s role in the economy
Keeping the City Going illustrates how government-supported services help communities function, especially during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Public systems such as transportation, sanitation, emergency services, and public health played critical roles in keeping cities operating while protecting community health. The book helps students understand how government institutions coordinate essential services and respond to emergencies that affect the economy and daily life.
