Three mischievous dogs sneak out before dawn to explore the farm, and chaos follows close behind. Follow the pups as they make quite a mess in every new place they go.
Written in playful poetry, Escape to Play features highly detailed, whimsical illustrations that create an upbeat feeling as you move from page to page. Keep an eye out for a little mouse named Norman, who hides on every page, and for famous paintings sprinkled throughout the farm scenes.
Escape to Play is a reminder to have fun with discovery. Art lovers and future art lovers will enjoy the backmatter section full of questions and tidbits about the styles behind each painting, with playful prompts that tie each artwork back to the story, like spotting a hidden dog in a pointillist scene or imagining how the farmer might react to all the mess.
"A humorous and entertaining canine tale." — Kirkus Reviews
Becky Gehrisch grew up drawing dogs and farm scenes after visiting her grandparents' homes in the country. It's no wonder that she went on to create Escape to Play after earning an art degree from The Ohio State University. Becky moved to a rural town in Ohio where she is constantly inspired by the beautiful countryside and wildlife just outside her window. You can find her getting into her own kind of shenanigans with her husband and kids as they explore the US in their RV.
Becky Gehrisch grew up drawing dogs and farm scenes after visiting her grandparents' homes in the country. It's no wonder that she went on to create Escape to Play after earning an art degree from The Ohio State University. Becky moved to a rural town in Ohio where she is constantly inspired by the beautiful countryside and wildlife just outside her window. You can find her getting into her own kind of shenanigans with her husband and kids as they explore the US in their RV.
"In this debut picture book, three dogs wreak havoc when a farmer's back is turned. What happens when three canines are left alone by the 'farmer friend' with whom they live? They 'escape to play,' of course, in every part of the property both inside and out. They begin with the kitchen and then move on to destroying plants on the porch, digging up the garden, crashing the pickup truck, and more. It seems as if there may be no end to their mischief, not until they've touched every possible thing. The dogs' activities take them through the day until it is time for a bedtime story. They 'hide from view' because they know 'farmer has MORE / chores to do!' Gehrisch's tale is a simple romp that will amuse toddlers and preschoolers who love animals and silliness as well as delight parents who enjoy picture books with semirealistic, vintage-looking illustrations. While the story is more of a list of events than a narrative, its short couplets deftly hold it together. The aftermatter reveals that the author slipped classic paintings like van Gogh's The Starry Night into the images and challenges readers to find them and answer questions about them. Gehrisch's illustrations, combined with the story's low word count and uncomplicated vocabulary, not only make this a work that will hold a toddler's attention, but also one that will appeal to children as they learn to read. A humorous and entertaining canine tale." — Kirkus Reviews, https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/becky-gehrisch/escape-to-play/
"Pup-based pandemonium strikes when three overeager canines wreck a particular kind of homegrown chaos on an empty farm. Kids with a penchant for cute doggies and finding hidden pieces of famous art will howl for more." — Betsy Bird, Children's Author, Librarian, Podcaster, Blogger and Reviewer
"Escape to Play is a charming and delightful book for young readers...that will give youngsters what is probably their first exposure to some great art masterpieces!" — David Weaver, Executive Director, Ohioana Library Association
"The dog's adventure is one all children will love! They will giggle over the pictures and guess the rhyming words as they read along." — Kellie Hall, Director - Early Childhood Development, Ohio Wesleyan University
"This debut picture book features whimsy, art history, and doggies. Delightful text and hidden objects make this a real treat to read over and over. Perfect for preschool read-a-loud time and adventurous k-2nd grade readers." — George Clifton, Youth Services Librarian, Delaware County District Library
"With gorgeous illustrations perfectly paired with rhyming text, Escape to Play is a joy to read one-on-one, in the classroom, or at well-attended story times. We love the seek & find aspect of the book, and the generous back matter will entice readers to pour over Gerisch's amazing picture book again and again." — Bryan Loar, Owner of Cover to Cover Bookstore, Upper Arlington, Ohio
