Walker The Park In The Dark

A hugely endearing picture book from the makers of the Big Bear and Little Bear series. When the sun goes down and the moon comes up, the toy monkey and his friends, Loopy the elephant and Little Gee the dog, creep softly out of the bedroom, down the stairs and through the dark hall on their way to the deserted park. The park's an exciting place to be after dark, though a little bit scary - especially when the Thing (a night train) hurtles out of the darkness, seeming to chase them. Then the three friends run all the way home and jump back into bed, safe and sound once more. Now a classic story, The Park in the Dark won the 1989 Kurt Maschler Award and has now been reissued to appeal to a new generation of young children. Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly "Me and Loopy and Little Gee," are the stuffed animals (a monkey, an elephant and a puppy) who make their way to the park each night after their young owner has gone to sleep. Out the window, through alleys, across light-swept streets they travel, and only Little Gee is afraid. And then, the "Thing" comes--a train passing the park--and the three scamper home before first light. The graceful mood of the text contrasts aptly with the playful postures of the toys, who take care of each other like three siblings--the bigger one carries the smaller, and they buck up each other's courage. Firth washes her pictures with soft blues and other dusty colors, rendering each dark corner safe. The abrupt ending feels forced, but that's easily forgiven. These three friends make the nighttime world a welcome place. Ages 3-6. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From School Library Journal Kindergarten-Grade 2-- A picture book told in rhyme about the adventures of three stuffed animals. The narrator, a large toy orangutan, is joined by a floppy-eared elephant and a small spotted dog. Together, "me and Loopy and Little Gee" leave their sleeping, human owner for the park. While swinging and sliding, they are interrupted by a THING which sends them scurrying home, "where we ought to be." The illustrations--double-spread, frameless beauties in soft watercolors--communicate the friendship of the animals during their nighttime escapade. The language, while evocative and poetic, could be confusing to children who may not understand ruined mills and "withers that wobble." Children will recognize the depth of the friendship shared by the toy animals, and the protective stance of the largest creature for the smallest. The book succeeds primarily because of its illustrations. It offers a chance to share in the shadows cast in the city by bright moonlight. It's a good choice to share with a fair-sized group of kindergarteners or first graders, and a nice addition to nighttime theme books such as Rice's Goodnight, Goodnight (Greenwillow, 1980) and Memling's What's in the Dark? (Parents, 1971; o.p.) --Reva Pitch Margolis, Norwood School, N.J. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.