Carl's Afternoon in the Park

This is a book for very young children, but the illustrations are so lovely and detailed, and the situations depicted so full of wit and little hidden jokes, that I never get bored with it, even after "reading" it over and over and over again with my toddler. This is my very favorite of the Carl books, because the activities are totally non-materialistic and wholesome (riding a merry-go-round and a train, sharing an ice cream cone, getting sprayed by a hose), and because the park is recognizably inspired by beautiful Balboa Park in my native San Diego, where Alexandra Day lives. It's worth it to get both the board book and regular hardcover editions, just to appreciate the greater detail of the images in the larger format. And I have to add just one more, mildly tongue-in-cheek comment: as for the "lesbian couple" alluded to in a veiled way by a previous reviewer -- well, I just have to giggle. Yes, there are two young, attractive women having a picnic on the grass as Carl and his charges go by. But it never would have occurred to me to impute homosexuality (or any kind of sexuality) to them. They're fully clothed (albeit in pants), and they're just sitting there -- hardly a lascivious scene no matter what your prejudices. Now if Tinky-Winky were pictured sitting with them, well, that would be a whole different story. I guess this just proves what everyone says is so wonderful about the Carl books -- you can interpret the images however you like.

"Wayn3 of Warsaw NY" needs to LIGHTEN UP and GET A LIFE re: Good Dog Carl review! If you had any slight amount of intellect and insight, you would figure out that children's books are about fantasy, imagination and FUN! It's not about social services, CPS and child abandonment! I'll bet you're a real bore about your children reading/watching Lord of The Rings and/or Harry Potter if this is the case. Good Dog Carl books are some of the best displayed relationships shared between children and their dogs and how they are loyal to one another. I happen to own a Rottweiler and he is one the most gentle dogs in the family w/ all the children and they love him. Get a grip!!

This is, by far, the best Carl book (in fact, one of the best of any picture books). My just-turned-two girls have had this book for months, and it is their favorite. Not only is the artwork fantastic, but the book is actually quite clever (I love the scene with the artists painting Carl and the baby in abstract, impressionist and modern art styles). It is filled with spectacular images that grab a toddler's attention, and the detail is enough to keep adults interested, too. Even after reading the book many times, I still find things I hadn't noticed before. The book includes a carousel, flower garden, balloons, ice cream, train, petting zoo (with seals???), slide and much more ... plenty to show and teach your children! [As a side note, apart from this book and "Good Dog, Carl", the other Carl books fall short of our expectations]

The "Carl" books are wonderful. My son is 15 and I still pick up every "Carl" book I can find.

I enjoy it as much as my 18 month old son. Carl, the baby and the puppy do all his favorite things - swingset, slide, ice cream (!), go on the train - plus much more. He now "reads" the story to me each night.