A child’s day: an alphabet of play by Ida Pearle

Opening with a very appropriate poem from Robert Louis Stevenson "To Any Reader," this picture book pairs the alphabet effortlessly with children’s play.  It has only one word on each page, but each word works well.  It won’t be ideal for reading aloud, because children will love to chat about the pictures and words that are part of their own lives.

Pearle has create a picture book that celebrates our diversity and our similarities at the same time on each and every page.  The children portrayed come in all different colors, some obviously one sex or the other but others are androgynous.  Every child will see themselves on this page, though the person doing their favorite activity may look nothing like them.  This is a book for building those invisible bridges of understanding.  Pearle’s illustrations are done in cut-paper collages with bright colors and bold graphic statements.  Modern and yet somehow evocative of the picture books of my own childhood, both parents and children will be drawn to the art.

This is a book meant to share.  It’s a great conversation starter for toddlers and preschoolers.  Appropriate for ages 1-3.