The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Forty-Eight

I love people watching. When I was a child, I used to go to town with my father and we would sit in a cafe and make up stories about the people who walked by. We would wonder where were they going, and what were they doing in town. Now I play this same 'game' with my daughter. We find that airports and cafes are great places to people watch. Today's picture book is about a little girl who is watching the world go by from her balcony.

Passing By

Yona Tepper

Illustrated by Gil-Ly Alon Curiel

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Kane Miller, 2010, 978-1-935279-36-5

Yael is a little girl who likes to stand on the balcony of her home. From the balcony on the second floor, she can look into the street and watch the world go by. Here comes a little dog who is wagging his tail. Busily he jumps, turns around, and barks. Then the little dog trots down the street, and Yael wonders where the little dog has gone.

   Later on, Yael sees something else coming down the street. She “peeks between the railings” and she hears someone whistling and ringing a bell. Who is it Yael wonders, and then she sees a man riding a bicycle. He is wearing boots, and he has a basket and a fishing pole on the back of his bicycle. Yael wonders where the man is going and what he will do when he gets there.

   This charming picture book shows young children how interesting it is to observe the world around them. The narrative encourages them to try to guess what the animals and people that they see in the story are up to. Where are they going and what will they do next?

  With wonderful, brightly colored illustrations throughout, this is a picture book that young children are sure to enjoy.