Playground Day!
Written and Illustrated by Jennifer J. Merz
Hardcover ISBN # 0-618-81696-8
Clarion Books
An Imprint of Houghton Mifflin Company
Playground Day! was inspired by many happy playground days with my young daughters. With this book, I aim to capture the boundless energy of childhood and the sheer joy of unstructured playtime.
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“Intricate and charming collage illustrations crafted from torn and cut paper shine in this exuberant celebration of imagination and creative play. Each page offers clues to a friendly preschool guessing game and captures the unique pleasures of a day spent at the playground.
Merz offers a celebratory ode to the splendor of playgrounds, her verses taking readers on an exploration of a child’s imagination. Sprightly rhymes draw a tidy parallel between how the child’s play mirrors familiar activities of various animals... Using a collage of cut and torn papers, Merz artfully creates full-color illustrations that offer readers intriguing panoramas filled with depth and texture. Appealing illustrations and lively verse make this tale particularly suited for rousing read-aloud sessions. In an era of elaborate schedules for the youngest of children, Merz’s simply executed tale is a reminder to return to the basics, encouraging readers to unfetter their imaginations and embrace the creative opportunities unstructured outdoor play affords.” (Kirkus Reviews)