Copyright Date:
2019
Edition Date:
2019
Release Date:
08/06/19
Pages:
1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN:
1-7730-6167-4
ISBN 13:
978-1-7730-6167-2
Dewey:
E
LCCN:
2018278529
Dimensions:
27 cm
Language:
English
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews
Owen lovingly helps his dad care for a beautiful city park.In an author's note, Ritchie explains that he visited Berlin's Tiergarten on a summer day and witnessed the turning on of the sprinklers, an event that "sent [everyone in the park] running in all directions." He reimagines this day through the eyes of young Owen, who usually sweeps or rakes leaves while his dad drives a large industrial lawn mower. "But once a week, there was a job that Owen loved. And this morning, he was going to do it by himself." The job involves notifying all those enjoying the park—sunbathers, picnickers, strollers, runners, and others—that the sprinklers are about to be turned on. "For a shy boy like Owen, the first part of the job was difficult." Then there's the task he enjoys most: opening the tap to allow water to thoroughly drench the grass, the trees, the flowers, and "anybody who hadn't listened to Owen." Although the story is slight, the charming full-bleed, double-page-spread line-and-color illustrations are gloriously green, full of diverse children and adults enjoying a warm day and myriad details to delight close readers. Owen and his dad present as white, and his dad uses crutches in a positive representation of a person with a disability just doing his job.It's hard to imagine the child who won't envy Owen this job. (Picture book. 4-7)
Working with his dad in the park, Owen gets to do his favorite job all by himself. First, he clears the park of picnickers, checkers players, sleepy dogs and geese, and then the magic happens ... It's a busy morning in the park. All along the boulevard, families are picnicking and people are napping, playing checkers and reading on the grass. But Owen and his dad are hard at work, raking and mowing the grass. And today, Owen gets to do the best job all on his own. With his dad's encouragement, Owen gathers his courage and goes around to everyone in the park. He tells the families, the checkers players and the readers what he has to do, and they rush off. Finally, when the park is empty, it is the moment Owen has been waiting for. He turns the tap for the sprinkler system, and water cascades over the trees and flower beds. In creating this book, Scot Ritchie was inspired by his trip to the beautiful Tiergarten park in Berlin. Owen at the Park is a sweet story illuminating the small pleasures in everyday life and the excitement of a child taking on new responsibilities. Key Text Features author's note Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3 Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
Common Core
STEAM
Graphic
Novel
High/Low
Chapter
Book
Large
Print
Series Tracker
Manga
Big
Book
Board
Book
Hot
Title
Adult
Language
Mature
Content
Ebook
Ebook
MUA (Multi User Access)
Light Novel
