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Parade
Captures the color and excitement of a hometown parade with floats, antique cars, bands, flags, crowds, and other wonderful things
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
2 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Donald Crews
49 books49 followersDonald Crews (born August 30, 1938) is an American illustrator and writer of children's picture books. In 2015, the American Library Association (ALA) honored him with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, recognizing his lasting contribution to children's literature. Common subjects of his include modern technology (especially travel vehicles), and childhood memories. His stories often include few humans.
Two of his works were runners-up, or Caldecott Honor Books, for the ALA's annual award for picture book illustration, the Caldecott Medal.
Donald Crews was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1938. He had an older brother, Asa who became Beth Israel Hospital's first African-American intern, and two sisters. His mother worked as a seamstress, and his father worked at the railroad, and several other odd jobs. For the summers he would travel down to rural Florida to stay with his grandmother, who he called "Bigmama". The difference between the big city and the farm caused him to create two, massively different types of art later on in his life.
From a young age, his talent for drawing was encouraged by his family and his teachers. When he got into high school, one of his teachers became a mentor to him, and personally made sure that he got into art school.
He graduated from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City, and married another graduate, graphic artist Ann Jonas.
Crews was drafted into the army in 1963, and sent to Frankfurt, Germany. Their first daughter, Nina was born in Germany, and their second was born a year later in New York. Nina is also an award-winning children's book author.
While in Germany, he worked on several pieces for his portfolio, including the book We Read: A to Z (1967). After several suggestions from friends, he submitted it, and it was published by Harper & Row (now HarperCollins). The book relied on abstract ideas, rather than the clichés that were usually associated with ABC books. One classic example is the entry for the letter C: "Cc, corner: where the yellow is" is illustrated with a yellow square in the far corner of a red page in the book.
He created several other books over the next few years, but it was 1978's Freight Train that won him a Caldecott Honor and the respect of other artists in the field. He won another Caldecott Honor the next year for Truck. Several other transportation themed books followed, such as School Bus (1984), Flying (1986), and Sail Away (1995). His memories from his summers in Florida first appeared in Bigmama's and later in Shortcut. These stories are vastly different from his previous works, in that they focus on humans, and tell a more linear story.
Crews and his wife currently live in the state of New York in an old, restored farmhouse overlooking the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains.
Two of his works were runners-up, or Caldecott Honor Books, for the ALA's annual award for picture book illustration, the Caldecott Medal.
Donald Crews was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1938. He had an older brother, Asa who became Beth Israel Hospital's first African-American intern, and two sisters. His mother worked as a seamstress, and his father worked at the railroad, and several other odd jobs. For the summers he would travel down to rural Florida to stay with his grandmother, who he called "Bigmama". The difference between the big city and the farm caused him to create two, massively different types of art later on in his life.
From a young age, his talent for drawing was encouraged by his family and his teachers. When he got into high school, one of his teachers became a mentor to him, and personally made sure that he got into art school.
He graduated from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City, and married another graduate, graphic artist Ann Jonas.
Crews was drafted into the army in 1963, and sent to Frankfurt, Germany. Their first daughter, Nina was born in Germany, and their second was born a year later in New York. Nina is also an award-winning children's book author.
While in Germany, he worked on several pieces for his portfolio, including the book We Read: A to Z (1967). After several suggestions from friends, he submitted it, and it was published by Harper & Row (now HarperCollins). The book relied on abstract ideas, rather than the clichés that were usually associated with ABC books. One classic example is the entry for the letter C: "Cc, corner: where the yellow is" is illustrated with a yellow square in the far corner of a red page in the book.
He created several other books over the next few years, but it was 1978's Freight Train that won him a Caldecott Honor and the respect of other artists in the field. He won another Caldecott Honor the next year for Truck. Several other transportation themed books followed, such as School Bus (1984), Flying (1986), and Sail Away (1995). His memories from his summers in Florida first appeared in Bigmama's and later in Shortcut. These stories are vastly different from his previous works, in that they focus on humans, and tell a more linear story.
Crews and his wife currently live in the state of New York in an old, restored farmhouse overlooking the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 19, 2020
Read by Mac Barnett on IG 7/4/20
December 29, 2013
This classic children's book by award-winning illustrator Donald Crews (Caldecott Honor 1979 & 1980) depicts a parade using simple, natural text and warm, colorful illustrations. The book would be especially useful for a music teacher introducing students to the variety of instruments in a marching band, or to the structure of such a moving musical unit.
Moreover, early childhood educators and parents of young children will find in this book a great way to demonstrate what a parade is like to youngsters to avoid what could otherwise be a bad reaction to a jarringly noisy, boisterious affair.
I especially enjoy the international flavor of the parade, as many of the participants and viewers on the sidewalks are waving flags and represent people from all around the world, as you might see in many modern urban (American) cities. One parade float is labeled 'World Wide Travel' and is populated by seven figures clothed in the traditional dress/costume of a variety of countries spanning the globe. I would also note the fire engine toward the end is a pretty epic climax. Finally, it teaches a lesson in that the last thing to do after the parade rolls through is clean up.
Moreover, early childhood educators and parents of young children will find in this book a great way to demonstrate what a parade is like to youngsters to avoid what could otherwise be a bad reaction to a jarringly noisy, boisterious affair.
I especially enjoy the international flavor of the parade, as many of the participants and viewers on the sidewalks are waving flags and represent people from all around the world, as you might see in many modern urban (American) cities. One parade float is labeled 'World Wide Travel' and is populated by seven figures clothed in the traditional dress/costume of a variety of countries spanning the globe. I would also note the fire engine toward the end is a pretty epic climax. Finally, it teaches a lesson in that the last thing to do after the parade rolls through is clean up.
August 22, 2016
The illustrations in this book remind me a bit of Jacob Lawrence's work, and I love Jacob Lawrence's work. The text is simple; it definitely steps back and lets the artwork take the spotlight. And that works perfectly.
June 12, 2018
This book evokes nostalgia in me for the simple childhood joy of showing up to watch a parade; Donald Crews hit the mark with his text and illustrations in celebrating a simple joy.
The text is not simple. One of the added benefits of this book is it pushes the adult reader to share words with children that would not come up in everyday conversation. Thereby a child hears words like: sanitation department, strutting drum majors, crowds, antique automobiles, bygone days, and the various names of marching band instruments. Because of the named instruments, it might be fun to pair this book with The Philharmonic Gets Dressed for a music-oriented storytime that teaches children all of the instruments used to make music in a marching band or orchestra.
Big sweepers cleaning up the parade mess in the book are an added bonus for young children attracted to vehicles. The clean-up and designated parking signs hint at the often underappreciated workers who make simple joys like parades possible. Making these workers' work visible in this text makes them more visible in life. That's terrific.
I also admired the international feel of the illustrations. This was accomplished by featuring a float highlighting world wide travel. It could be a fun conversation to have with a child asking them where they think each country costume originates from.
Confusing illustrations were 1) the no parking sign. The words PARADE TODAY were inserted in between no and parking, 2) the order of illustrations didn't match the order of the text on 'Buttons balloons, and flags today.' This would be an easy fix and more understandable to have balloons pictured first on that page instead of pretzels, and 3) an African-American man carrying the flag of Japan, 4) no women in the marching band or carrying flags. Don't they play instruments too?
These are quibbles though and unlikely to detract from the joy of the book. Open it and see if it brings back wonderful parades of the past in your memory bank. By sharing a book on this subject, one generation can teach another: appreciate this simple joy.
The text is not simple. One of the added benefits of this book is it pushes the adult reader to share words with children that would not come up in everyday conversation. Thereby a child hears words like: sanitation department, strutting drum majors, crowds, antique automobiles, bygone days, and the various names of marching band instruments. Because of the named instruments, it might be fun to pair this book with The Philharmonic Gets Dressed for a music-oriented storytime that teaches children all of the instruments used to make music in a marching band or orchestra.
Big sweepers cleaning up the parade mess in the book are an added bonus for young children attracted to vehicles. The clean-up and designated parking signs hint at the often underappreciated workers who make simple joys like parades possible. Making these workers' work visible in this text makes them more visible in life. That's terrific.
I also admired the international feel of the illustrations. This was accomplished by featuring a float highlighting world wide travel. It could be a fun conversation to have with a child asking them where they think each country costume originates from.
Confusing illustrations were 1) the no parking sign. The words PARADE TODAY were inserted in between no and parking, 2) the order of illustrations didn't match the order of the text on 'Buttons balloons, and flags today.' This would be an easy fix and more understandable to have balloons pictured first on that page instead of pretzels, and 3) an African-American man carrying the flag of Japan, 4) no women in the marching band or carrying flags. Don't they play instruments too?
These are quibbles though and unlikely to detract from the joy of the book. Open it and see if it brings back wonderful parades of the past in your memory bank. By sharing a book on this subject, one generation can teach another: appreciate this simple joy.
November 19, 2024
Quality-wise, this book is good. The art is nice and detailed, and it definitely presents the feel of a parade.
The "story"... is very bland, at best describing exactly what's on the page in a sentence (or less). You could honestly almost do away with the narration entirely. I probably would have deducted more stars, except I guess Crews is also the artist? I mean, the art is carrying the book, after all! So I would feel cheated if this were a team where the author got top billing for writing barely a paragraph.
Saying this as a sometimes-artist myself, though I identify more as a writer (as evident by my reviews, haha).
It's a thoroughly Okay book for younger readers, though I don't have any at hand to gauge their reactions directly. It also has one of my grammar peeves:
"No Parade Today Parking"? (Please don't ever divide up phrases like that and cause confusion!)
The "story"... is very bland, at best describing exactly what's on the page in a sentence (or less). You could honestly almost do away with the narration entirely. I probably would have deducted more stars, except I guess Crews is also the artist? I mean, the art is carrying the book, after all! So I would feel cheated if this were a team where the author got top billing for writing barely a paragraph.
Saying this as a sometimes-artist myself, though I identify more as a writer (as evident by my reviews, haha).
It's a thoroughly Okay book for younger readers, though I don't have any at hand to gauge their reactions directly. It also has one of my grammar peeves:
"No Parade Today Parking"? (Please don't ever divide up phrases like that and cause confusion!)
April 20, 2019
I appreciate that this book exists simply because it's hard to find age-appropriate books on the 4th of July/parades to read with toddlers and preschool ages. This one doesn't automatically lend itself to being interactive, but it could work (you could wave flags, pretend to play drums, pretend to honk the horn of the car). There are a couple concepts that would need explaining.
June 28, 2025
Found this this morning in a public library’s Book Barn and couldn’t resist purchasing. I have always enjoyed the books of Donald Crews and his titles are so appropriate for young children. Crews includes all the elements for a parade, marching band, floats, and the mostly in the past now, baton twirlers and last but not least a fire engine. Copyright 1983 it is an oldie, but goodie for me.
December 27, 2017
It's the day of a parade. Lots of people gather to watch. There are floats, a band, and other entries.
At the end, the sweeper comes through to clean up.
At the end, the sweeper comes through to clean up.
June 23, 2020
I can't wait until we can do parades again
August 21, 2023
The kids enjoyed this.
December 12, 2017
Parade is a fun, colorful, festive adventure. Parades happen throughout the year and they are a cultural event that takes place all around the world in different ways. I would like to use this book to discuss different festivities that families take part in.
July 7, 2011
Parade by Donald Crews is a colorful look at a parade, especially focusing on the marching band. It covers the parade from street closure to clean up.
The text is less than 90 words. Among the band instruments named and shown are trombones, clarinets, saxophones, coronets, trumpets, flutes, French horns, sousaphones, field drums, cymbals and bass drums.
The illustrations are fun and varied. The crowd is drawn with no facial features while the parade participants all have facial details, focusing attention on the parade. The marchers and the crowd are racially diverse and multi-ethnic. Fun details include the country flags in the parade and flags being held by the crowd. The sanitation trucks at the beginning and the end have numbers 19 and 82 presumably indicating the year the illustrations were composed.
Short, entertaining and a good choice for holiday times, including the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, or summer. The drawings would allow young children to tell the story themselves.
For ages 3 to 6, read-aloud, one on one, parades, holidays, marching bands, instrument themes, and fans of Donald Crews.
The text is less than 90 words. Among the band instruments named and shown are trombones, clarinets, saxophones, coronets, trumpets, flutes, French horns, sousaphones, field drums, cymbals and bass drums.
The illustrations are fun and varied. The crowd is drawn with no facial features while the parade participants all have facial details, focusing attention on the parade. The marchers and the crowd are racially diverse and multi-ethnic. Fun details include the country flags in the parade and flags being held by the crowd. The sanitation trucks at the beginning and the end have numbers 19 and 82 presumably indicating the year the illustrations were composed.
Short, entertaining and a good choice for holiday times, including the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, or summer. The drawings would allow young children to tell the story themselves.
For ages 3 to 6, read-aloud, one on one, parades, holidays, marching bands, instrument themes, and fans of Donald Crews.
July 24, 2011
A street parade is full of sights, excitement, and fun that small children may find disorienting, while the noise level and the pace of the procession make it difficult for them to ask questions about what is happening. This book, in keeping with Donald Crews' many books of this type, presents the events and elements of a parade with simple narration, beginning with a "no parking" sign and a gathering crowd, proceeding through a series of displays and groups, and ending with the dispersing crowd making way for the street-cleaner truck.
In his inimitable style, Crews manages to capture the movement and excitement of a street parade, allowing young children to enjoy the experience at a safe remove. This book will not only enhance their experience when viewing a parade, but also allow them to relive the experience afterward. It's a quick read with only a few well-chosen words per page, and it repeats well. Not everyone will love Crews' distinctive artistic style, but it is quite popular with preschoolers and his good writing helps to balance it.
In his inimitable style, Crews manages to capture the movement and excitement of a street parade, allowing young children to enjoy the experience at a safe remove. This book will not only enhance their experience when viewing a parade, but also allow them to relive the experience afterward. It's a quick read with only a few well-chosen words per page, and it repeats well. Not everyone will love Crews' distinctive artistic style, but it is quite popular with preschoolers and his good writing helps to balance it.
January 30, 2015
A parade goes by and each part is described in a few words on each page.
A good way to introduce some of the instruments of a band to kids, or prep kids on what to expect if they are going to a parade for the first time. Though it has few words, many of them are complicated so not necessarily a good pick for beginning readers unless they need a challenge.
A good way to introduce some of the instruments of a band to kids, or prep kids on what to expect if they are going to a parade for the first time. Though it has few words, many of them are complicated so not necessarily a good pick for beginning readers unless they need a challenge.
October 10, 2013
Ages: 4-8
Genre: Elementary book, Early Childhood, Art and Design
Review: The story is simple about a parade or people, animals and machinery marching down the street. I would use this in my classroom to teach chronological order as well as using pictures to tell a story. There are not many words and the pictures tell a lot of what is not read.
Genre: Elementary book, Early Childhood, Art and Design
Review: The story is simple about a parade or people, animals and machinery marching down the street. I would use this in my classroom to teach chronological order as well as using pictures to tell a story. There are not many words and the pictures tell a lot of what is not read.
January 24, 2010
You love to point out the instruments in the marching band, especially the big. bass. drum. You noticed the strange hand signal of the man on the second to last page, which looks a bit like a yoga move and which we can't figure out, and you like to imitate it.
October 15, 2012
One of my favorite Crews books. This one has just enough words to read to a young reader or to be used to describe the pictures. This could be a good ESL tool. These pictures were better than his "Night at the Fair" pictures.
December 11, 2013
Follow the brilliant colors as the author-artist conveys the anticipation and delighted enjoyment generated by a parade. Even with few words, readers will understand the excitement of the parade that is to come on the following pages. Great for beginning readers!
September 29, 2013
I was not a big fan of this book, so I can only imagine how young children would feel towards it. The pictures were uninteresting and held no interest for me. I skimmed the entire book just to get through it. Not a fan.
December 5, 2013
Parade is a picture book with little text, but it names and displays pictures of all the instruments the reader would see in this parade. I would use this for counting or drawing conclusions based on pictures.
October 8, 2013
Parade is a book for early childhood readers because it has a lot of pictures. Since it has few words and mostly pictures, children would enjoy the excitement of being at a parade from pictures in this book.
February 26, 2015
I have a thing for Crews' use of shapes. They are simple just detailed ...I know that doesn't make sense. Also, I am sucker for a parade. They make no sense... a stream of bands and vendors and horses down main street...yet we love them. Cute book! Like the flags!
August 25, 2016
We borrowed 4 of Donald Crew books at same time to learn his style. Our favorite Donald Crew book is Freight Train and then Short Cut. This one was just fine too, but not our favorite.
January 29, 2014
This does not have much of a story or plot line. It explains everything that people would see in a parade showing illustrations of the different instruments and floats in the parade.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews