Voices in the Park

Product Information

Like Belgian surrealist artist, Rene Magritte, Browne uses the same symbol over and over to convey meaning.

On Thursday morning at a quarter past ten, Joseph Kaye noticed something strange about the kettle,'' reads the intriguing first line of this imaginative picture book. Strauss explores ``the theme of metamorphosis in fairy tales'' in this stunning collection of 12 dramatic monologues by familiar fairy tale characters at a moment of crisis or confrontation. Voices in the Park weaves together the voices of four very different characters creating a tapestry that appeals to anyone that has ever visited a park. Socioeconomic circumstance should be considered, like life, like health, a temporary state which can change suddenly at any time. Through Charles's eyes, readers watch the tops of lampposts, gray clouds and a leafless tree take on the shape of his mother's large chapeau, as her hat-dominated figure casts a shadow over the boy.Part of a new line of books aimed at families with blind or sight-impaired members, this smartly conceived board book is tactile in more ways than one.

I believe this is how the reader is supposed to interpret Charlie’s character arc too, but I keep thinking about the distinction between sexism and misogyny, and how Browne only subverts one of those aspects for his boy character. This story tells the tale of many different people but the one thing they all have in common, is that it starts at the park. Presenting a grave subject in comic-book format, Kooharian (Medieval Tales: The Twelfth Century) endeavors to blend elements of fantasy with an achingly real story of a terminally ill boy. First published in 1977, this tale of friendship which is one of the first books by internationally acclaimed picture book creator, Anthony Browne is available again in paperback. It looked dark and gloomy with the tree branches all bent forward, the father unhappy and the portraits of Shakesphere and Mona Lisa and a poor Father Christmas emoting sadness of the father.This educates children and prevents such divides occurring in future generations as well as educating them on the History of Art and the political messages spread through art. Anthony Browne has described Mrs Smythe as “dominant” and “militaristic” and explains that she loves her son but overprotects him.