Reviews

A Picnic in October by Eve Bunting, Nancy Carpenter

turrean's review against another edition

4.0

A lovely, quiet story about one American family’s tradition.

middle_name_joy's review against another edition

5.0

There is much to have feelings about when reading "A Picnic in October." It speaks to the immigrant experience, and family, and legacy. It's also very poignant in a post-9/11 world (you'll understand when you see that ONE illustration). There is something else, too. The pureness of the story, the living-ness of it. The ease. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but it's not a feeling you often encounter in children's books, though you should.

theraykay's review against another edition

4.0

Picture book about a family who spends the day on Liberty Island to celebrate the family's immigration to America. The protagonist is embarrased but learns the importance of the time after listening to his grandfather.

This is a great book to use with immigration lessons. The importance of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are highlighted in relation to immigrants coming to live in America.

engpunk77's review against another edition

3.0

A great example of a personal narrative (for those teaching it at the elementary or middle school level), this book shows a child's subtle attitude change when he for the first time seems to understand and appreciate the significance of his family's annual tradition of having a very cold picnic on Liberty Island to celebrate the statue's birthday.

The family's ancestry is Italian.