Boy and Girl are joined on a picnic by Sheep, Pig, and Duck, only to have the outing interrupted by a series of small mishaps. Bull chases them and they scatter and hide in the woods. Then Duck loses his scarf, the wind blows Sheep’s hat away, and Pig’s ball rolls out of sight. Each time, young readers and listeners are given the opportunity to directly engage with the story in response to a question posed in the text. “Can you find Boy, Girl, Pig, Sheep, and Duck?” is the query on the two-page spread in which they all are hiding behind separate trees. “Who is sleeping in which bed?” comes near the story’s end, after Boy and Girl invite their friends to sleep over. Finally comes the question that adults may appreciate most of all: “Can we find your bed?” John Burningham’s satisfying picture book, the prefect segue to bedtime, has illustrations that feel free-spirited and childlike. (Ages 2–4)

The renowned John Burningham is in classic form with a simple story of a boy, a girl, and some animal friends that invites the child listener to join in.

One day, Boy and Girl head down the hill with a picnic basket and meet a fancily dressed Sheep, Pig, and Duck. They all set off to find the perfect place to sit outside — until they see Bull coming! A short-lived chase segues into a gentle interactive text as the friends wend their way from an idyllic outdoor world to a welcoming house on a hill. (Can you find Pig’s ball? Shall we find your bed?) In a charmingly understated tale with child-friendly illustrations and a hint of sly humor, John Burningham evokes a perfect summer day with a fresh new picture book.