A Day at the Police Station by Richard Scarry
| A Day at the Police Station by Richard Scarry | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Ruth Ng
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| Summary: Not quite as 'busy' as some other Scarry books, but a good story with plenty for inquisitive toddlers to talk about! | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: August 2014 |
| Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books | |
| ISBN: 9780007574940 | |
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We like Richard Scarry books in our house. My 2-year-old son has brought me the Busiest People Ever book to read more times than I'd care to think about, but actually I always enjoy it too because there are so many things to see and discuss and look for. The funny illustrations are usually the key selling point for me but actually, in this particular book, it was the story I liked.
Here we meet Sergeant Murphy and his daughter, Bridget. His wife is busy one day and so Sergeant Murphy takes Bridget to work with him. She isn't keen...she really wanted to go to the park! But of course, her day turns out to be quite unexpectedly exciting as she follows her dad around. As well as directing traffic and uncovering a mysterious ghost they find themselves solving crimes and helping a lost child. Bridget can't believe all the wonderful things her dad gets up to in just one day!
We tend to skip a lot of the stories in our other Scarry books, because we spend most of our time looking at all the pictures, trying to find Lowly the worm or naming all the many, many different vehicles that there are! This time, it's the story that's the star I think. The illustrations are still fun - I like that Sergeant Murphy's motorbike's sidecar is a white enamel bath on wheels! But really, the pictures here are supporting the text, rather than dominating as they do in other books. There aren't many large scenes with lots going on to pick apart, but there are still lots of pictures throughout the book, and something funny to see on each page. I liked the detail of Sergeant Murphy's day, all the many things he gets up to and how we see the progression of his busyness.
For anyone who, like me, loves Mr Frumble the pig who constantly gets into trouble, well, he makes an appearance in this story. Don't worry, he's still causing trouble! Bananas Gorilla is there too - not stealing bananas this time, but accidentally driving his banana car into the river! There are still some funny vehicles to spot (I like the car made from a baguette!), and all the pictures are as bright and colourful as you'd expect.
You'll need a little person with enough patience to sit through a longer sort of story - this isn't a one-line per page sort of book - but the patience will be repaid as it's a lovely story to think about and discuss, inviting discussion about what policemen do all day, what daddy does all day, what mummy does all day, and what sort of car you want to drive when you grow up! Lovely for bedtimes, or afternoons, or any sort of 'read me a book mummy' moments that you like!
This is our favourite Scarry book but you might also be interested in this crime fiction book for little ones Inspector Croc Investigates by Sam Lloyd. You might also enjoy A Day at the Fire Station by Richard Scarry.
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You can read more book reviews or buy A Day at the Police Station by Richard Scarry at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy A Day at the Police Station by Richard Scarry at Amazon.com.
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