When We Went to the Park
Author and Illustrator: Shirley Hughes
Buy – When We Went to the Park
This simple and friendly little book for younger readers incorporates counting and allows some reading skills to be developed as the sentences are short and the words are not too complex.
A little girl of three or four takes a walk to the park with her grandfather. The warm and engaging illustrations bring everyday scenes to life. Shirley Hughes has a wonderfully expressive style of animating people, which is gentle and realistic.
‘When We Went to the Park’ follows Shirley’s well loved approach of exploring things that are either first encounters for little ones or part of their daily routine.
Grandpa is depicted as kind and responsible, mum and baby wave them off at the gate, a cat is greeted on the way to the park and gets a pat on the way back. Ladies chat on park benches, an array of joggers run past, dogs of differing breeds dash along, as grandpa and the small child stand watching.
There is playfulness in the autumn leaves and wonder at the circling bird far above. When it’s time to go home, Grandpa’s has is held out in a gentle gesture, encouraging the little girl to leave the delightful experience she is having.
A sweet little book which toddlers will really enjoy.
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Book details
- First Published: 1985
- Hardcover: 20 pages
- Publisher: William Morrow & Co
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 068804204X
- ISBN-13: 978-0688042042
- Age Range: 1-5 years
“My books have grown out of real situations. They are mostly set in a city background – my own part of London to be exact. The domestic details are very local and English, but I hope the themes are fairly universal.”
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