SHARK IN THE PARK!

Cartoon-bright colors saturate lively spreads in Sharratt’s (Eat Your Peas, 2000, etc.) clever offering. A double-page opener pictures the serene scene at the park: ducks in the pond, a girl on roller skates, and “a little boy . . . testing out his brand-new toy.” On the next spread, the boy explores a variety of views from his telescope: “He looks at the sky. / He looks at the ground. / He looks left and right. / He looks all around.” On the opposite stark white page, heavy black print, and a die-cut hole that mimics the telescope’s viewfinder create a sense of urgency. “There’s a shark in the park!” The child shouts. What else is he to think? All he can see is a big black fin. But a turn of the page reveals the truth: “It’s only a cat.” Further explorations and false alarms follow until the boy’s father arrives to take him home. All’s safe in the end. Or is it? Sharratt keeps kids guessing. With a die-cut hole dead center and a striking red and green bull’s-eye design Sharratt’s bold cover is right on the mark. And although the premise is tried and true, Sharratt’s design is fresh and fun. (Picture book. 2-6)