The Playground

Deborah Dowson is a children’s librarian who has recently relocated to
North Wales, Pennsylvania.

Photographs of real people engaged in real-life activities are the
hallmark of the Talk-about-Books series. The sturdy board books for
babies and toddlers are presented in a size perfect for small hands. The
bright photographs are boldly framed with a unifying color throughout
each book. In My Family, the subjects are family groups of different
sizes, ages, and racial diversity. The primary message of the book is
that families are different in many ways, but that love makes them the
same. In The Playground, a variety of children enjoy typical playground
activities, such as swinging, climbing, splashing in a pool, or having a
picnic, together with other children and adults. The books are meant to
be a springboard for discussions between the adult reader and the young
child. Each book asks a couple of questions, such as “What special
days does your family celebrate?” and “What do you like to do at the
playground?” to encourage children to relate the books to their own
experience. The choices of natural settings and everyday activities also
help children identify with the subjects of the books. These latest
additions to the popular Talk-about-Books series succeed in their aim of
helping young children explore their world. Recommended.