Michael Solomon at Groundwood designed this cover.
I love his ideas.
This is one of my favourite illustrations because it shows what the book is all about –
a little boy finding his courage.
I rode my friend's bike around Tiergarten, Berlin.
The sprinklers came on and splashed the trees and sleepy people lying in the sun.
This was the start of my story, Owen at the Park.
The statues are amazing in Tiergarten Park In Berlin.
Owen at the Park
Groundwood Books (2019)
Working with his dad in the park, Owen gets to do his favorite job all by himself. First, he clears the park of picnickers, checkers players, sleepy dogs and geese, and then the magic happens …
It’s a busy morning in the park. All along the boulevard, families are picnicking and people are napping, playing checkers and reading on the grass. But Owen and his dad are hard at work, raking and mowing the grass. And today, Owen gets to do the best job all on his own. With his dad’s encouragement, Owen gathers his courage and goes around to everyone in the park. He tells the families, the checkers players and the readers what he has to do, and they rush off. Finally, when the park is empty, it is the moment Owen has been waiting for. He turns the tap for the sprinkler system, and water cascades over the trees and flower beds.
In creating this book, Scot Ritchie was inspired by his trip to the beautiful Tiergarten park in Berlin. Owen at the Park is a sweet story illuminating the small pleasures in everyday life and the excitement of a child taking on new responsibilities.
“It’s hard to imagine the child who won’t envy Owen this job.”
—Kirkus reviews (Full review here)
“A charming father-son story.”
—Stephanie
“A sweet, charming story! Fills the heart.”
—Darshana Khiani