Come to the Park

The title and first line are an invitation to visit the park. As the pages unfold, we find out why; there is just so much to do and see there – parks offer free local fun for everyone.

Lots of examples are given. You can ride a bike, climb a tree or fly a kite, visit the playground, play hide and seek or simply chill on a bench. Readers are encouraged to take time to spot wildlife in the trees, flower beds or the pond. While there, listen to the sounds, for example honking and quacking. Visit in different seasons and you will be able to smell the flowers in summer and crunch through dry leaves in the autumn.

With rhyme and a pleasing rhythm, the author’s poetic skills are very clear, making this a great book to read aloud. The illustrations are bold, lively and colourful. They emphasise diversity, presenting the park as a place for everyone, whether young or old, able bodied or disabled and whatever your ethnicity, religion or the type of family you may belong to.

This is a celebration of local parks, likely to encourage families to drop everything, visit and appreciate their own local parks.