Where Did You Go Today?

PreS-Gr 1–There are no limits to a child’s imagination. An ordinary trip to the local playground is transformed into a fantastic adventure as a little girl creates a colorful and dynamic background for her day. Using her surroundings, she is able to reach as high as the birds in the sky from the top of the stairs that allow her to slide down the side of a mountain. She and her friends are not just riding on pretend animals in the sand pit; instead, they are riding their real counterparts on a race through the desert. At the end of the day, the child has not strayed far from home physically, but her mind has allowed her to explore the world. Short, succinct text accompanies whimsical illustrations, allowing readers to focus on the visual component more than the words themselves. Even without the words, readers can describe the story from the pictures alone, immersing themselves in this world. The images vary from real to imagined, sometimes distinct and sometimes combined, illustrating the fluidity with which imagination intermingles with reality. The girl’s purple sweater is a constant and pops off the more muted tones of the surrounding landscapes on each page. Readers of all ages will connect with this story and will be inspired to go outside and discover all the possibilities that exist there.