Water in the Park: A Book About Water and the Times of the Day

by Emily Jenkins, Stephanie Graegin (Illustrator)

“A wonderfully fresh look at a timeless topic,” raves Booklist in a starred review. From the first orange glow on the water in the pond, to the last humans and animals running home from an evening rain shower, here is a day-in-the-life of a city park, and the playground within it. A rhythmic text and sweet, accessible images will immerse parents, toddlers, and young children in the summer season and the community within a park. Seasoned picture book readers may notice Emily Jenkins's classic inspirations for this Alvin Tresselt's Caldecott Medal-winning White Snow, Bright Snow, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin, and Charlotte Zolotow's The Park Book, illustrated by H. A. Rey.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nature, Summer, Science, Nonfiction, Animals

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 14, 2013

About the author

Emily Jenkins is the author of many books for children, including the recent picture books Tiger and Badger, illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay, and Princessland, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka. Her chapter books include the Toys series, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky; she is co-author of the Upside-down Magic series. Emily Jenkins lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For a fuller explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.

A new one for me. A day in the city park from the turtles climbing up on the rocks at dawn, until the last people leave in a downpour after dark, and all through the day who is using water and how. The kind of book that makes one want to live on Sesame Street.

Library copy

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired by her early morning and late evening visits to Brooklyn's Prospect Park, author Emily Jenkins chronicles a summer day in the life of a busy city park, focusing particularly on water usage throughout the day. From the early morning visits of dogs to the midday swarms of workers eating lunch, from the playground games of children to the rock-sunning of the pond turtles, the activities seen here center around water of one kind or another, and around the communal life of the park.

A wonderfully engaging look at a vital resource in big cities - namely, the green spaces provided by the city's parks - Water in the Park: A Book About Water & the Times of the Day is equal parts fun summertime tale and natural history. I appreciated the use of a particular focus - the use of water - to chronicle the life of a particular place - a city park - over the course of one day. The artwork by Stephanie Graegin is colorful and appealing, depicting a diverse range of people making use of the green space available to them. Recommended to all young park lovers, to anyone looking for picture-books with a summertime feeling, and to those in the market for children's stories that address the use of natural resources in an entertaining way.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie's Picks: WATER IN THE PARK: A BOOK ABOUT WATER & THE TIMES OF THE DAY by Emily Jenkins and Stephanie Graegin, ill. Schwartz & Wade, May 2012, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-375-87002-6

"Oh, the water"
-- Van Morrison, "And It Stoned Me"

"The chickens flapped
The sheep bleated
The pig mucked about
The dog teased the cat
The cat chased the rabbit
The rabbit hopped
The children squabbled
The boat tipped..."
-- from MR. GUMPY'S OUTING by John Burningham (1970), one of my favorite water-play stories

Water.
Sand.
Clay.
Unit blocks.
Songs.
Stories.
Movement.
Friends.
Snacks.
Rest.

When it comes down to it, all that I learned over the course of a couple of years, decades ago, in the child development program at Santa Rosa Junior College, can be distilled down to that list of ten.

Water is an unstructured manipulative and free access to it is so essential to the development of very young children. Children splash in it, pour and measure it, scoop it, mix it into sand and into dirt, create ripples in it, dance in it, wash in it and, eventually, learn to swim in it.

Here, in the park setting of WATER IN THE PARK (inspired by the author's sweet memories of Prospect Park in Brooklyn), we see young children engaged in water play and sand play -- sometimes in parallel play and sometimes in cooperative play -- amidst all of the other goings-on in the story's well-used, well-loved urban park. We experience hot slides that have buckets of water poured down them to cool them off, and an evening shower that cools everyone off and sends them running. We see birds and cats and dogs and turtles all interacting with water. We also see swings and jump ropes and climbing structures, trees and rocks and benches, and the "real" world out beyond the borders. (Or is this park really the real world, the place where young children learn how to keep sane amidst the insanity beyond the park's borders?)

I see several people -- young and old -- reading. I see biking and scootering. But I don't see any iPhones or iPads or iPods or iMacs. And this makes me happy. Makes me want to clap my hands and sing Fiddle-I-Fee. Because there is plenty of time for that later.

We are taught in child development classes that play is the work of young children. This is a great picture book in support of that essential concept.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...

[Mollie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This book beautifully depicts the essence of park life in New York City, portraying the bustling outdoor experiences that are often the primary playground for young children in densely populated areas. Our 4 1/2-year-old thoroughly enjoyed reading about a world she knows so well, identifying with the various characters based on her real-life encounters. The format is delightful, offering a glimpse into a day in the life of a park, catering to the interests of everyone. However, it does introduce some elements of fantasy, as most urban parks do not permit wading with turtles! The illustrations are absolutely stunning, possessing a charmingly primitive quality with a flattened perspective that drew her right into the heart of the story." https://magazineforge.com/anand-sagar...

[Tashanna Gilliam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I added Water in the Park because I like how the book shows the connection of water all around us and I think it would be a good book to get students (PreK-2) talking about the many uses of water. The book describes a day at the park starting at 7am with dogs swimming in a tiny pool, to children drinking at the water fountain, to adults playing with water balloons. In addition to the mention of water the book goes in time sequence up until 8pm which is another opportunity for learning and discussion.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book lived up to its charming promise. At different times of the day, the water in the park-- and the activities people and animals do in the park-- vary. A great book to talk about time in the day and different activities with a preschooler. A fun read aloud too, with good pictures. For kids who like dogs (such as mine) the bracketing return of the dogs to the park at morning and evening is an especial draw.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a lovely book. Miss 3 wasn't taken with it (the way she is with 'Peepo') but still lovely to look at something more conceptual and illustrative than text based. It covers a day in the park from when dogs arrive in the morning to splash at the pond, to kids carrying buckets of water to the sandpit, to the dogs in the gathering dusk. I couldn't help but think those were some pretty dedicated owners to bring the same dogs there at dawn and dusk!

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice story that explores the many ways we can use water throughout the day. Jenkins' text narrates the activities at a community park from morning to night including all kinds of water uses by children, pets, and adults in the town. The book could be used as a springboard for conversations about natures cycles including the water cycle and day and night. I only wish that these concepts had been introduced a bit more directly through the book.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an ambitious project! Emily Jenkins gives this picture book a twofold topic: water and also different times of day.

Very detailed pictures, featuring many distinctive people, can be incredibly entertaining for children.

Expect plenty of conversation about water, in one way or another, until this educational day is done.

FIVE STARS here? They're for my favorite book yet by Emily Jenkins, with AMAZING pictures by Stephanie Graegin.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This adorably illustrated picture book shows the comings and goings of the various animals and people visiting the park throughout a hot summer day. I loved the diversity of the people and families that visited the park and the sweet message of shared community this common area brings to a bustling city.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love the concept of following a day in a park (based on prospect park). but the writing doesn't flow well. the names disrupt the flow even more, since some characters are referred to anonymously "two babies" while some are named like "Shawnee B." and "Little Nonny" the dog, and it's confusing why some are named and some aren't.

[ConnieLettow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish it focused more on the times of day, to convey the passage of time and what that might look like to a small child. It would be even better if it portrayed a clock, had the same perspective at all of the times, and show the shadows of the sun. Especially if it could've put in a sun dial and the time of year.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elliot absolutely loved this book. Maybe because it’s about a day at the park, which is very familiar to him since we visit our neighborhood park very frequently? The text read chronologically from early morning until late evening, with new people and animals enjoying the park — and that many ways water is used — on each page.


*library book. Read at 22 months

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming picture book. The story is more about observation than plot. It's a day in the life of a park. I really enjoyed the illustrations. There is so much to notice on each page, and I think children who enjoy pictures will find a lot to look at.

[Beth Kakuma-Depew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book about the changing groups that use the park through out the day. I want to try it in a Storytime, but I'm not sure if I could condense the text. It's kinda wordy. The dark city night skyline at the end gives this book a bedtime feel.

[BrookeLynne Wilcox · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like the concept and the illustration are nice enough. But it was no fun to read out loud. About half way through I stopped reading and just let my child flip through the illustrations till we were ready for the next book.

[Amy Goldstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple snapshot of the daily occurances in a neighborhood park. Each hour we read about who comes and goes and why. A soft and sweet book that can lead to writing and reflection.

[Celebrilomiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a very hot summer day, and from early in the morning until a soaking rain in the evening, the park has lots of visitors who come to enjoy the water and the park.

[Carolyn Jeziorski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story that focuses on a park during the day. Lots of diversity, even among the dogs visiting the park! The illustrations are so detailed! The grade 2s I read this to loved the naked baby!

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story that chronicles a summer day in the life of a busy city park with a particular focus on water usage.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

When and how water in a park is used. Nice summer read. Great doggy onomatopoeia!

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this sweet story about basically the life of a park in a day. It had all the characters from dogs to babies to birds. The illustrations are lovely and diverse, which is nice to see.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day in a very busy park, from the first dog at the pond to the evening rainstorm that drives everyone home. Ideal for city babies.

[Anne with Violets · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book full of fun finding the people and animals described in the text.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting illustrations

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story about the daily activities surrounding a pond in a neighborhood park.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a fun non fiction book. There's not much to it but it lets the kids relive summer.

[Fjóla · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of a curious book. I guess I was expecting part non fiction, and so was my son who picked it up when he saw it was "a book about water and the times of the day". Not so much, in fact you won't learn a thing from this book, except that people, plants and animals drink water and that kids and dogs play with it too. Otherwise the book is utterly mundane, uninspired and frankly not very creative. The text is flat and in parts a tad weird. At first all the names mentioned seemed to be dog names: Bingo, Little Nonny, Mr. Fluffynut, but people or babies ("humans") are referred to anonymously, as "the baby with the bagel" or "the other baby", whatever! Then, midway through the book this suddenly changes, with Claudie K.'s sitter (looks kinda ugly, doesn't it?!) and Shawnee B. and Benjamin F. so we expect to see them get involved in something remarkable, ... but they don't really, but Claudie K. doesn't want to go home. Eh, it's not great, but there's lots of detail in the pictures, and the young ones will love to pore over them. So, the illustrations by Stephanie Graegin (which are fine, delicate and cute, although not stunning) may be the book's saving grace.

It's a fine book about community, if a little on the trivial side, and it will most certainly appeal to all those who have fond memories of Brooklyn or a special big city park.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a picture book filled with all sorts of delights as time passes over the course of one day spent in the park. It all starts quietly enough with turtles sunning in the dawn's warmth, and then things get busier as dogs and their owners come by. Each double-page spread offers scenes in which a couple of families with babies arrive and then mover and more visitors arrive, making the park one busy place. As night starts to fall, just about everyone leaves the park for home, and it is quiet once again. The fact that the book is a tribute to White Snow, Bright Snow and The Park Book adds to the pleasures of enjoying it as do the little but telling touches such as the sounds of an orange cat lapping up water from a puddle or the drama of children such as Claudie K. who prefers the park to her home or a three-legged dog named Little Nonny who must learn to swim again. There are so many stories waiting to be unwrapped in this picture book as humans and animals enjoy the park's water in various ways. The illustrations, created with pencil-and-ink washes and then colored and assembled digitally are marvelous and filled with details. For instance, readers may want to pay attention to the antics of the orange cat sleeping near the bench in the first illustration and then follow the feline to the end of the book.