15. Voices in the Park

Anthony Browne's book written in 1998 is deceptively simple...and yet psychologically complex at the same time. Why did I compare it to "Shutter Island"? Well, don't worry about it being a thriller that is going to freak you out and give you nightmares...it is not. I made the comparison because both the book and the movie had me going back to certain parts, looking in detail at them again, wondering why the author/director put them in there.


Browne shows his true surrealist colors in this book. On every page you will find something that is not quite right...it could be subtle like the root of a tree turning into a foot or blatant like Mary Poppins flying around in the background. I have read this book 5 times and seen at least a few new elements each time. The best part about those hidden gems is that they keep you guessing. Why is "The Scream" on the newspaper? Why are there hats hidden everywhere? Like "Shutter Island", those clues actually have meaning to the story. Rather than a "Where's Waldo"- style hunt for objects, these shapes and figures tell you some of the backstory for what is going on in the character's thoughts and feelings. And the great part is that no one really knows the answer. Anthony Browne did not publish a guide to this book, explaining the significance of the surreal images; he wants us to think. He wants us to read it again and again, hypothesizing about the underlying meaning. And this is great to do with kids because they can have such amazing, creative thoughts. I am often astounded by the connections they are able to make and insight they draw from things that adults may glance over. So this book is really for them-- to stop on each page and take a deep look at what is happening. It might be hard to get those details as a read aloud, but it would be great for independent reading.


At the same time, the book is so layered that you can completely ignore the surrealist aspect and pay attention to the message of the story. Four gorillas go to the park, yet each one experiences that day differently. Browne makes the idea of perspective and point of view so beautifully illustrated with his varying fonts and visual styles. In the book, each character has a section to tell his/her story-- this section has its own unique typeset (font and size) that reflects the personality of the character. Also, the vibrancy of the colors changes depending on the mood of the character telling the story. Browne keeps the reader interested by providing a variety of page layouts, sometimes bordered and other times full bleeds. It is incredibly rich that you have to read it over and over to really get the full effect.


In the classroom, this book would be great for looking at multiple perspectives. You could even use it as a jumping off point to talk about time periods in history where understanding the varying perspectives is crucial. You could also have the students act out the varying 'voices' of the characters to understand what it feels like to step into someone else's shoes. This book could teach empathy that way-- helping children realize that not everyone views the same experience in the same way. Finally, the deeper issues of class differences and alienation come up, which could be talked about or overlooked, depending on the age. In the end, it is the friendship that provides hope for the future. What a great book!