The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
worldlibraries's review
4.0
This book evokes nostalgia in me for the simple childhood joy of showing up to watch a parade; Donald Crews hit the mark with his text and illustrations in celebrating a simple joy.
The text is not simple. One of the added benefits of this book is it pushes the adult reader to share words with children that would not come up in everyday conversation. Thereby a child hears words like: sanitation department, strutting drum majors, crowds, antique automobiles, bygone days, and the various names of marching band instruments. Because of the named instruments, it might be fun to pair this book with The Philharmonic Gets Dressed for a music-oriented storytime that teaches children all of the instruments used to make music in a marching band or orchestra.
Big sweepers cleaning up the parade mess in the book are an added bonus for young children attracted to vehicles. The clean-up and designated parking signs hint at the often underappreciated workers who make simple joys like parades possible. Making these workers' work visible in this text makes them more visible in life. That's terrific.
I also admired the international feel of the illustrations. This was accomplished by featuring a float highlighting world wide travel. It could be a fun conversation to have with a child asking them where they think each country costume originates from.
Confusing illustrations were 1) the no parking sign. The words PARADE TODAY were inserted in between no and parking, 2) the order of illustrations didn't match the order of the text on 'Buttons balloons, and flags today.' This would be an easy fix and more understandable to have balloons pictured first on that page instead of pretzels, and 3) an African-American man carrying the flag of Japan, 4) no women in the marching band or carrying flags. Don't they play instruments too?
These are quibbles though and unlikely to detract from the joy of the book. Open it and see if it brings back wonderful parades of the past in your memory bank. By sharing a book on this subject, one generation can teach another: appreciate this simple joy.
The text is not simple. One of the added benefits of this book is it pushes the adult reader to share words with children that would not come up in everyday conversation. Thereby a child hears words like: sanitation department, strutting drum majors, crowds, antique automobiles, bygone days, and the various names of marching band instruments. Because of the named instruments, it might be fun to pair this book with The Philharmonic Gets Dressed for a music-oriented storytime that teaches children all of the instruments used to make music in a marching band or orchestra.
Big sweepers cleaning up the parade mess in the book are an added bonus for young children attracted to vehicles. The clean-up and designated parking signs hint at the often underappreciated workers who make simple joys like parades possible. Making these workers' work visible in this text makes them more visible in life. That's terrific.
I also admired the international feel of the illustrations. This was accomplished by featuring a float highlighting world wide travel. It could be a fun conversation to have with a child asking them where they think each country costume originates from.
Confusing illustrations were 1) the no parking sign. The words PARADE TODAY were inserted in between no and parking, 2) the order of illustrations didn't match the order of the text on 'Buttons balloons, and flags today.' This would be an easy fix and more understandable to have balloons pictured first on that page instead of pretzels, and 3) an African-American man carrying the flag of Japan, 4) no women in the marching band or carrying flags. Don't they play instruments too?
These are quibbles though and unlikely to detract from the joy of the book. Open it and see if it brings back wonderful parades of the past in your memory bank. By sharing a book on this subject, one generation can teach another: appreciate this simple joy.
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