Where Did You Go Today?

A little girl goes to the park with her dad and has a fantastic time climbing, swinging and sliding: the play transports her to imaginary locations, like sliding down a snowy mountain, sailing on a roundabout ship out to sea and racing on a camel in the desert while bouncing on her ride-on playground animal. Finally, it’s time for dad to take her home and say a cheerful goodbye to her and mum.

Jenny Duke’s mix of colourful paint and lino print-esque backgrounds expertly capture the imagination of the little girl in the story, whose play at the park is full of delight and imagination.

The book has fewer than 60 words, yet also successfully and positively depicts what appears to be a separated or divorced dad visiting his daughter for a play date as a part of everyday life.

Duke is also inclusive with her illustration, featuring a child in a wheelchair at the playground, and the little girl’s mum with a cochlear implant. It’s a delightful book that says a lot in very few words, and an excellent picture book for early primary aged children who aren’t such confident readers but want something not too babyish to look at together.