Boy and Girl head down the hill from their house, on their way to the titular picnic in this simple picture-book, meeting Sheep, Pig and Duck along the way and inviting them to join the fun. A number of adventures ensue, from being chased by a bull to hunting for the various items that different individuals lose. At each stage the narrator invites the reader/listener to help find what is lost or hiding.

With signature John Burningham illustrations, done in what looks to be watercolor - this artist's rather sketchy artwork always reminds me of other British artists like Quentin Blake and Tony Ross - and a simple text of no more than a sentence per page, Picnic is a title aimed at younger children. As always, I appreciated the fact that Burningham isn't afraid of white spaces on his page - so many contemporary artists seem to feel the need to overload their illustrations - and enjoyed the quirky sense of humor that he demonstrates through his artwork. I also appreciated the fact that the narrative here attempts to involve the child reader in an interactive experience. All that said, despite its good qualities, I found the narrative here rather pedestrian, with a series of declarative sentences that reminded me of nothing so much as an old Dick and Jane book. Altogether, a mixed bag, one I would recommend primarily to determined Burningham fans. ( )

Simple, engaging and playful. ( )

Simply story, pleasing to read. Opportunities to 'find things' in the simple illustrations. ( )

(19) ( )