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Summary
Summary
Experience a picnic in the park with Mama and Jack, where nothing seems to go right, but fun is had by all ndash; and a little dog joins the family. With "And then, who knows why..." as the cheerful refrain, Diane Goode tells how a boy's plan to give his mother a perfect picnic in the park goes hilariously awry. Kids will spot the little dog who's the cause of the mischief on every spread, making the refrain even more fun! Without preaching, this visual adventure shows that you can be happy even when things don't go just right. And the large, animated scenes picture all the fun with an expressive, lively line and inviting color
Author Notes
Diane Goode was born in New York City. She has written seven and created the paintings for 55 highly acclaimed children's picture books, including the Caldecott Honor Book When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant.
Diane's other awards include, New York Times Best Seller Lists, ALA Notable(s), ABA Pick of the Lists, Oppenheim Platinum Book Award(s), Top Ten English Speaking Union of the United States Ambassador of Honor, Parent's Choice Award, Teacher's Choice Award, International Reading Association CBC, Children's Choice, Library of Congress Children's Book of the Year, National Council of Social Studies- Children's Book Council, Society of Illustrators Certificate(s )of Merit, NY Public Library 100 Titles of Reading & Sharing, Book List, and Children's Editor's Choice.
Diane is the illustrator of New York Times bestseller Founding Mothers: Remembering the Ladies by Cokie Roberts.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Jack invites his mother on a picnic, but the outing appears doomed from the start. The boy's first choice for the lunch in Prospect Park is a boat, but something frightens a flock of ducks, which in turn startles Mama and Jack, causing them both to fall in the lake. A picnic on the grass while their clothing dries turns into a disastrous affair when something spooks several horses, and they toss up mud in their haste to run away. Undaunted, the mother and son make other attempts to lunch only to face one mishap after another. When rain drives them indoors, they finally find the perfect spot for their picnic. They also discover that a small brown-and-white dog has followed them home; they take him in and name him (what else?) Spot. "Suddenly, who knows why," is the story's refrain, which will guarantee audience participation. Mama and Jack remain clueless as to the cause of the day's constant disruptions while readers will clearly see that the pooch has been the source of the chaos. Watercolor illustrations depict an affable multihued cast of characters and a warm parent/child relationship while exuding a pleasant, old-fashioned flavor. A delightful tale.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
The earnest young protagonist of Goode's (When I Was Young in the Mountains) tale immediately endears himself to readers as he brings his mother breakfast in bed, along with a card stating, "I know the most perfect spot for a picnic." Mama dons her pink, wide-brimmed hat, and the two leave their early 20th-century Brooklyn apartment and head to the park, where several seemingly ideal picnic spots turn out to be anything but. After they climb into a rowboat, a flock of flapping ducks startles them, and they land in the lake. The two spread out their blanket on a sunny expanse of grass, only to be splattered with mud when horseback riders "clippety-clop" past them. As the rain starts to come down (pitter-patter-pitter, pat..."), the duo finally gives up. In each case, the narrative repeats, "It seemed like the most perfect spot, but... suddenly," the last two words appearing in large, hot-pink type. This repetition, as well as the onomatopoeic sound effects and bustling pictures of the primly dressed parent and child undergoing all manner of mishaps, make for a winning read-aloud. Along the way, kids will delight in spying the little dog (with a brown fur patch over one eye) who is responsible for most of the mayhem-and who returns Mama's now-ragged hat after wrestling it from the pooch that purloined it. They take in the heroic dog and name him Spot-"the most perfect Spot." The book exudes a timeless charm and is, in fact, spot-on. Ages 4-8. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Kirkus Review
A little boy and his mother search for the perfect "spot" for their picnic--and eventually find it. When Jack invites his mama to the perfect spot for a picnic, she dons her best hat and they walk to Prospect Park. When they find the perfect spot by the lake, a flock of ducks upsets their boat. When they find the perfect spot to dry off in the sun, riders on horseback splatter them with mud. When they find the perfect spot riding the carousel, Mama gets dizzy and loses her hat. And when they finally find a spot in a meadow, it starts to pour, forcing them to run home where they find the most perfect spot of all. Set amid the brownstones, streetcars and small shops of early 20th-century urban America, the "most perfect" animated line and watercolor illustrations capture the comic events of this memorable day in the park. Sharp little eyes will discover a recurring detail in the drawings that gives the title a whole new meaning. Perfectly charming. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
PreS-Gr. 2. Young Jack wants to go on a picnic with his mother and thinks that he knows the perfect spot in Prospect Park. Maybe it is, but getting there is fraught with problems. The rowboat, which is a little tipsy, leads to a wet Mama and Jack. Horses and riders gallop by, covering the pair with mud. Even a ride on the carousel turns out badly. When the rain begins to pour down, Mama and Jack decide there's only one perfect spot for a picnic--back home. As in books such as Monkey Mo Goes to Sea (2002), Goode's art was inspired by the early years of the last century: a gracefully costumed Mama and Jack, who wears a sailor suit, revel in their leisurely outing before everything starts to go bad. Appearing in large pink letters, the words But . . . suddenly, which continuously interrupt the story, add propellant to the short text. Full of amusing details and nice touches, including a little dog that appears in every scene and winds up going home with the pair, this book will sustain more readings than one might expect. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2006 Booklist