A DAY IN THE PARK
There is an entire world alive here; the varied flora and fauna include gorgeous trees, vibrant flowers, joyful pups roaming off-leash, butterflies, chipmunks, swans, and more. Some of the attendees take in live music performed in the band shell, while others go for a run. The rhyming text is broken up across page turns (“Visiting the park any time of the day is a delight. // In the morning baby birds have a big appetite”), which keeps the story moving. The collagelike illustrations are the real draw, though. A layout of the plants and trees shows layered greens of various shades, the backdrop a wash of watercolor. Horizontal brush strokes across the legs and torsos of the runners give the impression of movement and speed. The detailed work on the faces of the racoons, frog, and rabbit gives readers a taste of the incredible wildlife nestled inside the city. An author’s note reveals Brooklyn’s Prospect Park as Salmieri’s inspiration. There are few humans in the book, but those depicted are diverse in terms of skin tone and hair color and texture. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
