Walker Once Upon A Picnic

Little Red Riding Hood, three bears, a troll, a giant, a witch - all pay a visit to the little boy's picnic. Maybe a picnic can be fun after all. Editorial Reviews From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 2?A book that gently conveys how the imagination can enliven readers' worlds. Oblivious parents set up chairs, read, and eat while their son observes a host of storybook characters around them. A troll guards the bridge where three billy goats try to cross; a wolf encounters Little Red Ridinghood; and three bears enjoy a rollicking picnic of their own. A simple, rhyming text is tucked into a small white box on each double-page spread. Because so much action takes place in the illustrations, the words seem almost unnecessary. The watercolor paintings are simple and light, as befits this airy flight of fancy. Part of the fun is recognizing the different characters, but as French creates her own original take on things, her story can be enjoyed on its own or as a jumping-off point to explore classic folk and fairy tales.?Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public Library Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Booklist Ages 3^-7. In this sequel to Once upon a Time (1993), a very ordinary looking family nonchalantly eats a picnic lunch, while beside them, a family of three bears settles in for its own picnic. In the meantime, a troll at a nearby bridge queries three billy goats, a witch stirs a potion, and a giant's shoe is quickly occupied by a woman with a great many children. Brief, rhyming couplets, contributed by Vivian French, will help focus the attention of younger children; older kids may find the pictures give them all they need. They'll love guessing the identity of Prater's folktale figures and enjoy following the familiar tales as they spin out in softly dappled watercolor landscapes that abound in funny vignettes. Susan Dove Lempke --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.