The Picnic

by Ruth Brown

Narrates the events of a picnic from the point of view of the animals who live above and below the picnic grounds where the humans come to eat. By the author of Alphabet Times An International ABC.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Born in 1941, Ruth Brown is the creator of some of Britain's best loved children's books. She has created a great many picture books for Andersen Press and is highly respected as an author and illustrator.
She attended Bournemouth College of Art, 1957–59; Birmingham College of Art, degree (with first-class honors), 1961; Royal College of Art, M.A., 1964.
She is married to artist Ken Brown and they have two grown-up sons and one grandchild.

Reviews

[J9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

How could I not have found Ruth Brown before this? After reading A Dark, dark tale, I fell in love with it, and hoped I'd find some more "dark" stories in the Ruth Brown collection. While this isn't dark in any way, it IS, however, a wonderful story with some unusual and completely unique aspects to it. The story is adorable, the illustrations are so detailed! My 3 yr old twins liked the pictures, but it was a little on the long side to keep them engaged. My 5 yr old, however, loved the book. Just an overall fun book that's a great addition to any children's collection. I can't wait to read more Ruth Brown!

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice art. Simple story. Small wild animals hide when people come by to have a picnic.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful illustrations. The story ends a bit abruptly, which is a bummer because it was a sweet story I wanted to continue a few more pages

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the humans come rabbit and his friends scurry for cover in rabbit's burrow. When the burrow opening is covered and everyone in the burrow is plunged into darkness, mole digs his way to the surface. Mouse follows him and sees a baby. This baby put a biscuit over the hole entrance. Mouse senses danger and pulls mole by his tail back down the tunnel. A nose and pink tongue appear in mole's hole. Their owner, a dog, begins to dig into the burrow. Before rabbit and his friends can despair, water pours into the hole made by the dog. The dog runs away and so do the humans, because it is raining. Rabbit and the mice are glad to see them go. After the sun comes out again, the animals come outside to have a little picnic with the food left behind.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated simply written book. About field animals (rabbits, mice, mole etc) out in the beautiful field. Until danger comes, and they all run and hide underground. the danger is humans and a dog they find out after they go to investigate. They are scared the dog will get them until it starts to rain and then the humans run off and the animals are safe once again. Makes the reader-listener understand that animals of all kinds get scared.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picnic from a different perspective.

[Geannemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a very short story.