Charles’ font is meek, thin, and reflects what Smudge initially terms Charles-“wimpy”. Smudge’s father has a font that is bold but somehow more commonplace. Charles’ mother has a formal and almost superior font. For example, the font of each voice is different and contributes to the interpretation of the story and characters. It moves beyond the traditional conventions of storytelling and breaks all genre boundaries, integrating both playfulness and ambiguity that forces the reader to create their own interpretation and become what Sipe and Pantaleo (2008) term a “co-creator” in the story.Īs Browne introduces us to the four main voices in this text, the mother, Charles, the father, and Smudge, he artfully changes the colors, the fonts, and the framing of each unique perspective to create a visual work of genius.

With every turn of the page Browne invites the reader to engage in the text, the images, and the “voices” in his postmodern masterpiece. Children as well as adults can learn a great deal from this book about art, imagery, storytelling, parenting, and the pitfalls of a society obsessed with socioeconomic status.

It has resonance beyond any children’s picture book I have read, and I believe it should be shared and discussed in every classroom. Prior to reading it, I had never heard of the title or the author, although I have been fascinated by children’s literature for many years. When I first picked up Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne, I was unaware of the impact this book would have on me.

Voices in the park by anthony browne