Picnic

Displaying his signature sly humor, Burningham (Tug of War) follows a boy and girl (conveniently named Boy and Girl) as they try to find a place to picnic with friends Sheep, Pig, and Duck, who are dapperly accented with kerchiefs, hats, bowties, and other accessories. The five quickly hit a snag ("But they had not seen Bull"), and they race to the woods to hide from him. Burningham directly engages readers on multiple occasions through search-and-find questions, asking them to spot the would-be picnickers hiding behind trees and, subsequently, to find Sheep's hat, Pig's ball, and Duck's scarf. The items are easy to spy, tailoring the challenge to younger preschoolers, while pithy sentences and easy-to-grasp vocabulary will help beginning readers sound out the sentences. Vivid, springy greens and yellows, coupled with loose and exuberant black outlines, lend vibrancy and airiness to Burningham's paintings. As the day winds down and the weary cast retires for the night, a final question ("Shall we see if we can find your bed?") offers a pointed lead-in to readers' own bedtimes. Ages 2-5. (May)

PreS-Gr 1--A beautifully simple story of a girl, a boy, a duck, a sheep, and a pig at play. The human siblings live on top of a hill and set off one day for a picnic. At the bottom of the hill, Boy and Girl see their friends Duck, Sheep, and Pig and invite them along. An unexpected chase from a bull causes them to run into the woods. When it is safe to come out, they find the perfect spot for their picnic and frolic in the sun until it's time to head home. This lovely picture book is vintage Burningham and will appeal to the youngest of readers. The text is short and sweet with the illustrations providing the details. The large trim size and bright white pages make it great for sharing with preschoolers, allowing them to point out familiar sight words. Picnic has an interactive quality that encourages readers to find objects easily hidden in the pictures. Each painting is done in bold and bright colors that catch viewers' attention. Reminiscent of a simpler day, this book is a breath of fresh air--a time out of a busy schedule to enjoy the beauty of a picture book with a young child.--Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE