Carl's Afternoon in the Park [Hardcover]

Alexandra Day (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1991 | Age Level: 3 and up | Series: Carl

Carl, the baby, and a new puppy spend an eventful afternoon in the park, riding on a carousel, romping in the flowers, and visiting a children's zoo.

A contribution from the proceeds benefits the American Humane Association.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Move over, Mary Poppins, and make room for Carl, the ravishing rottweiler cum babysitter who makes his fourth and perhaps finest appearance yet in this gorgeously colored picture book. As with the other Carl books, these adventures are virtually wordless. When a mother meets a friend in the park, she leaves Carl in charge of her baby and the newest addition to the series, a rottweiler puppy. Carl fans know what happens next: the baby scrambles aboard Carl's back and the romp begins. Here, however, the illustrations are more dynamic and the goings-on even more beguiling than in previous outings, making wonderful use of the park setting. Carl poses like a pony on the merry-go-round; the trio rides a tiny train into a children's zoo, where the puppy incurs a ewe's maternal wrath; while the puppy wreaks more havoc, Carl and the baby model for afternoon painters, each of whom styles his canvas after a famous artist. There's lagniappe too, for gifted puzzle enthusiasts--about 20 pictures of dogs have been hidden in the illustrations. And for the softhearted, a portion of the proceeds benefits the American Humane Association. All ages.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-- America's most endearing Rottweiler is left in the park by his mistress to mind not only the baby but also a friend's frisky puppy. Fans of Good Dog, Carl (Green Tiger Pr., 1985), Carl Goes Shopping (1989), and Carl's Christmas (1990, both Farrar) will not be surprised to learn that he rises to the occasion. The baby seems a tiny bit older in this book and expectantly clambers onto Carl's back the moment the adults disappear. The venturesome trio embarks on a series of merry capers: a romp in a flower bed, a splash with a hose, a ride on a merry-go-round (with Carl as the "horse"), and so on. In one of the funnier scenes, Carl and the baby pose for a painting class and are rendered cubistically, abstractly, and impressionistically by the students. As always, Carl returns his charges safely to their point of origin--just in time to receive his unsuspecting mistress's commendation. In her familiar realistic, painterly style, Day is a master of sweet but not cloying illustration. Her colors are bright and clear; her animals and children expressive and appealing. The flow of the episodic events may seem slightly truncated in spots (e.g., the puppy, lifted aloft by a balloon, is grasped by the baby but the next plate shows both baby and puppy having an ice-cream cone). It's a minor quibble. The fact that no responsible adult would ever leave a baby unattended in a public park today and that, after three books, the concept is not as original and fresh, will matter little to the followers of Day's wordless fantasies. --Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CT
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (October 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374311099
• ISBN-13: 978-0374311094
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

In addition to The Christmas We Moved to the Barn, Cooper Edens has writted many ppular children's books, including If You're Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow, and his popular Santa Cow books. Mr Edens lives in Seattle, Washington.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful, detailed paintings illustrate witty story, October 20, 2004

By 

YinYang (SoCal, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carl's Afternoon in the Park (Board book)

This is a book for very young children, but the illustrations are so lovely and detailed, and the situations depicted so full of wit and little hidden jokes, that I never get bored with it, even after "reading" it over and over and over again with my toddler. This is my very favorite of the Carl books, because the activities are totally non-materialistic and wholesome (riding a merry-go-round and a train, sharing an ice cream cone, getting sprayed by a hose), and because the park is recognizably inspired by beautiful Balboa Park in my native San Diego, where Alexandra Day lives. It's worth it to get both the board book and regular hardcover editions, just to appreciate the greater detail of the images in the larger format.

And I have to add just one more, mildly tongue-in-cheek comment: as for the "lesbian couple" alluded to in a veiled way by a previous reviewer -- well, I just have to giggle. Yes, there are two young, attractive women having a picnic on the grass as Carl and his charges go by. But it never would have occurred to me to impute homosexuality (or any kind of sexuality) to them. They're fully clothed (albeit in pants), and they're just sitting there -- hardly a lascivious scene no matter what your prejudices. Now if Tinky-Winky were pictured sitting with them, well, that would be a whole different story. I guess this just proves what everyone says is so wonderful about the Carl books -- you can interpret the images however you like.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST Carl book of all!, January 28, 2003

By 

R. Moore "old gamer" (Plano, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carl's Afternoon in the Park (Board book)

This is, by far, the best Carl book (in fact, one of the best of any picture books). My just-turned-two girls have had this book for months, and it is their favorite. Not only is the artwork fantastic, but the book is actually quite clever (I love the scene with the artists painting Carl and the baby in abstract, impressionist and modern art styles). It is filled with spectacular images that grab a toddler's attention, and the detail is enough to keep adults interested, too. Even after reading the book many times, I still find things I hadn't noticed before. The book includes a carousel, flower garden, balloons, ice cream, train, petting zoo (with seals???), slide and much more ... plenty to show and teach your children! [As a side note, apart from this book and "Good Dog, Carl", the other Carl books fall short of our expectations]

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My son's favorite book!, February 9, 1999

By 

L. M. Woodruff-Long "l" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carl's Afternoon in the Park (Board book)

I enjoy it as much as my 18 month old son. Carl, the baby and the puppy do all his favorite things - swingset, slide, ice cream (!), go on the train - plus much more. He now "reads" the story to me each night.