(2) PS A blond-haired child narrates their weekly Sunday trip into town with Dad. Hunt follows the child's point of view throughout the story, leading to some dynamic perspectives in the book's double-page-spread illustrations. For instance, the pair walks hand in hand until the busyness of town makes the child "feel really small," dramatically conveyed in the art by imposing, elongated adult figures towering above them. The narrator's request "to go up high" is followed by a wordless closeup of Dad -- with his scruffy beard and big, tattooed arms -- settling the child on his shoulders. This elevated viewpoint brings the exciting sensation of feeling big, tall, and able to fly. The duo strolls through a quiet park and then pauses for lunch, and the child, now down from their perch, notices animals: "little things. Tiny things. Things that make me feel like a giant." A new take on size leads to appreciation of and confidence in who they are (à la the young protagonist in Crews's I'm Not Small, rev. 3/22). Hunt's brightly colored illustrations, full of expressive lines and textures, reflect the child's positive experience. Equally affirming is the love and care on display between father and child -- even when interests temporarily diverge (e.g., Dad talks too long to someone, looks at boring hardware). A sweet hug ends this satisfying outing.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) K-3 An entourage of well-dressed animals sets out for a festive picnic in this wordless Dutch import. Just as they begin cake-baking and merry-making, an eagle swoops down (on the title page) and snags their picnic blanket and, with it, the animals' signature possessions -- the pig's parasol, the frog pair's soccer ball, the poodle's purse, and so on -- casting doubt on the titular promise of "cake for everyone." When the eagle drops everything off a cliff, high jinks ensue. As the animals hunt down their belongings, readers enjoy Tjong-Khing's Where's Waldo–like visual puzzle. But what's the viewer's best strategy? Track one animal at a time or immerse oneself in the simultaneous chases that unfold over multiple page-turns? There are no wrong answers, and indeed many opportunities for re-reading. Soft pastel-colored scenes with fine black outlines invite repeat readings and reward careful viewers with a myriad of hidden surprises. In the end, there is, indeed, cake for everyone -- even the trouble-making snake and gorilla.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Frank Morrison. Family + gardening = a great summer feast. Li'l Sissy, the youngest of three African American siblings, tells how she and her siblings help their uncle John cultivate a garden in an empty lot between high-rise apartment buildings in their neighborhood. A gentle giant who towers above the kids, Uncle John lets them choose which plants to grow. Brother chooses corn and lima beans, Sister onions and tomatoes, and Li'l Sissy okra. Uncle John prepares the soil, the kids plant the seeds, and they all water, weed, and watch. At summer's end, at the family cookout, everyone enjoys the grilled meats, but the succotash outshines the rest because Uncle John and the kids grew the ingredients. Morrison's (R-E-S-P-E-C-T, rev. 7/20) color-saturated illustrations hint at his graffiti-art background, radiating the yellows of summer heat and the earth tones of the garden while emphasizing the bond that Li'l Sissy and her siblings enjoy. The wide-brimmed hat she wears, which mirrors her uncle's, suggests that Li'l Sissy will inherit his passion for gardening. Loosely based on the New York City childhood of late author Ford, this visually lush story paints a memorable, sensory-rich portrait of family bonding through gardening.

Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(2) PS Illustrated by Lauren Tobia. In this preschooler's introduction to the universe, a little girl's city-set picnic with two loving caregivers zooms from the titular blanket out to "the known universe, past comprehension," and back. Wolf adopts a cumulative "House That Jack Built" rhythm and structure that begins, "This is the blanket where Violet sits, / eating a sandwich, an apple, and chips," and simply but gracefully adds elements. Tobia's (Oscar's Tower of Flowers, rev. 9/21; Anna Hibiscus books) frame repeatedly expands perspective further and further before returning, like the rhyme, to blanket and family in a gentle ebb and flow. Her characters are rendered in her signnture style, with round, ­dumpling-like faces, soft noses, and tiny eyes topped by emotive ­eyebrows. They are a family of color bundled for the outing such that one adult's gender expression is entirely ­ambiguous (the other sports a soul patch). As day turns to night, Violet's caregivers don headlamps and set up a telescope (presumably carried to the park in their little red wagon, festooned with fairy lights). As Tobia's paintings take in the solar system and the galaxy, they retain a warm informality while also achieving a sense of awe. Between the tried-and-true narrative structure and the centering of this abundantly loved child, this must be the coziest exploration of the universe ever.

Reviewer: Vicky Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(3) K-3 On their special spring picnic by a mountain lake, (human boy) Max goes looking for flowers and his owl friend, Marla, falls asleep, leaving their food at the mercy of hungry squirrels. Picnic ruined, the disgruntled pair returns home without speaking. But Max's affection for Marla brings them together for a nighttime living-room picnic. Inviting ink and watercolor illustrations subtly lend each friend personality throughout their relatable tiff.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(1) PS Illustrated by Jason Chin. In this idyllic picture book, a boy and his family bike to a community picnic, bearing several pies. As Ledyard's text muses on the nature of sharing, Chin's detailed watercolor and gouache pictures take us through the Fourth of July celebration. The book ends poignantly, with Chin zeroing in on faces--a true diversity of races, genders, and ages--all sharing the same rapt expression watching fireworks.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2018

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Shahar Kober. Plucky chicken Zoey, her pig BFF Sam, and rat Pip (all from Lehrhaupt's Chicken picture books) are going to the beach...at least in Zoey's imagination (it's really a close-by pond). They swim, build sand castles, search for treasure, and--Sam's favorite--eat a picnic lunch. Humorous illustrations in subdued hues keep to the barnyard setting throughout the perfect "beach vacation."

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) PS Illustrated by David Walker. In their seventh outing (Bears in the Snow etc.), the four colorful little bears and Big Brown Bear prepare a picnic to enjoy under flowering trees. When "the wind's just right," the little cubs abandon their honey bread to fly kites, then go for an unexpected ride along. The bears' pastel colors match the springtime setting in Walker's acrylic illustrations, which nicely complement Parenteau's sweet rhyming story.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(2) PS Seven round, rosy pigs enjoy an afternoon of tree-climbing, kite-flying, and eating. Then stormy weather highlights the primary difference between a "pignic" and a picnic: lots of mud. The simple story is also nicely unpredictable and satisfyingly dependent on the illustrations. Loose watercolor washes make the sun, wind, rain, and mud feel tangible, and hoorays abound until the adorable, happily filthy pigs return home at sunset.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(3) PS Best friends Oliver (a cat) and Philbert (a mouse), who live together in an apartment, carefully pack for a picnic at the park; upon arrival, they face a sandwich-drenching rainstorm. Fortunately, the friends improvise a winning fallback plan that has "everything they need": each other. This appealingly simple ode to friendship features airy ink and watercolor art festooned with dialogue bubbles.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Sutton offers a vivid, detailed account of how and why the SS Eastland capsized on the Chicago River's bank in summer 1915. The cargo-turned-pleasure boat, carrying 2,500 (mainly immigrant) employees of Western Electric, sank before departing for a company picnic. In short, dynamic chapters enhanced with archival photographs, the straightforward text reflects on the disaster's obscurity relative to its contemporary, the Titanic. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) PS Illustrated by Alex Willmore. This storytime book begins like the classic song...but then the bus gets a flat tire. The verses and rhymes work well throughout and are easy to sing, while sunny colors and cuddly animal characters reassure readers that a happy ending is on the way. With lots of help--and eleven more verses--the animals fix the wheel and head off to a picnic.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read series. Illustrated by Buket Erdogan. These easy-reader editions (originally published as picture books Mouse's First Fall and Mouse's First Summer, respectively) feature "slightly different text" but keep the same low-key, season-themed adventures of adorably inquisitive Mouse and big sister Minka. Question-and-answer texts ("Over there, Mouse finds something green and tickly. / What is it? A grassy hill!") and Erdogan's original round-edged illustrations are both appealing. Review covers these Ready-to-Read titles: Mouse Loves Fall and Mouse Loves Summer.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) K-3 The little boy and his grandad from Rain and Snow return for more weather-related imaginative adventures. They set off on the hottest day of year for a picnic (Sun) and fly a kite in autumn wind gusts (Storm). As usual, the outings turn slightly fantastical, told with some visual clues. Expansive ink and watercolor pictures add to the stories' appeal. Review includes these titles: Storm and Sun.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(2) 1-3 A first-day-of-spring picnic by the pond begins a special friendship reminiscent of many classic pairs in the beginning reader canon. In three short chapters, Pig and Goose get to know each other better. While the chosen vocabulary consciously supports newer readers, the text remains smooth and expressive. Comfortable line-and-watercolor illustrations capture both the season and the spirit of the story.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Renée Kurilla. A canine city family heads to the shore for a picnic. They drive their "1 pickup" toward the bridge, as do "2 blue scooters," "3 squeaky jeeps," and so on until "10 troopers' cruisers" block everyone's path ("Road closed"). The spontaneous communal picnic has the esprit de corps of a Richard Scarry composition, but the story slumps after the bridge reopens.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Grandad, the debonair dog from The Lost House, sets off with his two grandpups and a picnic lunch. They drive through eye-popping, neon-colored scenes (a park, a village, etc.), but when they arrive at the picnic grounds, their basket is--"Holy moly!"--empty. Readers will happily accept the task of going back and scouring the stylish spreads for the missing items.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) PS Illustrated by Andrew Joyner. Unlikely pals Duck and Hippo splash in the springtime rain--then umbrella-holding Duck gets carried off (Rainstorm); they invite their friends on a summertime picnic--then Hippo gets lost (Found). Cartoon art, rendered in brush-and-ink with wash and pencil and digitally colored, depict the silly (and slim) escapades that celebrate friendship and the benefits of sticking together. Review covers these titles: Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm and Duck and Hippo Lost and Found.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Giusi Capizzi. One by one, twenty different animals arrive at Porcupine's picnic, each with its own food. When Tiger appears, the picnic comes to an abrupt end. Although warm, the digital art feels static, and the repetitive text lacks energy. A clarifying author's note explains that many of the animals would never meet and describes the differences between herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(4) 1-3 Dorothy and Toto series. Illustrated by Monika Roe. In Picnic, a sneaky weasel gets Toto in trouble when picnic food goes missing; Dorothy and friends search for a runaway Toto in Lost. Despite the bland writing, there should be enough surprise and mischief in these brief Oz-set stories to hold new readers' interest. Flat color illustrations appear throughout. A brief synopsis of The Wizard of Oz and reader questions are appended. Glos. Review covers these Dorothy and Toto titles: The Disappearing Picnic and Little Dog Lost.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan