A Walk in the Park

A welcome republication for an Anthony Browne classic from 1977. Two children from very different backgrounds (and their dogs) make friends where their parents cannot, because they are too bound to their social class. Browne, a multi-award winner and former Children's Laureate, later re-worked and expanded the idea as Voices in the Park.

Browne's illustrations always provide extra information to the written narrative, and we see the emergence of his trademark use of images from other sources - especially surrealism and other fine art genres - to jolt his readers into thinking more carefully about the text. Every spread needs careful investigation, and provides intellectual challenge on different levels to adults and children alike.

This is a masterpiece among picturebooks.