Once Upon a Picnic [Hardcover]

John Prater (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

In this charming tale, a little boy's picnic becomes something special as the characters from famous fairy-tales, such as the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and the kids who live in a shoe, appear magically from the woods.

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.

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

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564028100
• ISBN-13: 978-1564028105
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,908,428 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Once Upon a Picnic, July 29, 2010

By 

Anna M. Ligtenberg "AnnaLovesBooks" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Once Upon a Picnic (Hardcover)

ISBN 1564028100 - Printed in Hong Kong (boo hiss to the Massachusetts publisher, Candlewick Press, for the outsourcing). Amazon has the book listed for ages 4 to 8, the book itself doesn't say, but I'd personally guess around ages 2 to 5, for a couple reasons.

A boy and his parents picnic alongside a stream. The boy points out that there's not much to do or see and seems momentarily bored before the action begins to pick up. The Three Bears arrive with their own picnic basket, a witch peers from a doorway, a giant is seen striding across the landscape and a billy goat is heading toward a bridge. For the remainder of the story, right up until the family heads home, the stories of various classic childrens' book characters unfold.

The text, by author Vivian French, is worth ignoring, really. It's limited and it's in awkward rhymes, nothing special. John Prater, the illustrator, is also the man behind the concept of the book, a fact that seems obvious when you look at it. The illustrations are 95% of the book, while the text could, for the most part, not exist for all it matters. Prater and French are also the creative team on Once Upon a Time (Read and Share), a similar tale. The images here are watercolors, full of fun details, but not so busy that the important bits get buried. The main reason that I think the book is best suited to the two to five year old crowd is that two year olds are just about the right age to be able to begin catching on to the sometimes subtle introduction of nursery rhyme characters, while six year olds are just about getting over nursery rhymes completely.

- AnnaLovesBooks