PARKS ARE TO SHARE

This handsome addition to the Building Blocks series introduces parks through a brief text and accompanying full-color photographs. Hill (Towers Reach High, p. 640, etc.) first shows a group of children climbing a slide to make the point that parks are for spontaneous fun, but also emphasizes that they act as preserves of natural beauty and historic sites, provide quiet green spots in bustling cities, create centers for recreation, and offer open-air meeting grounds. Despite some loose claims- -e.g., ``All parks are open to the public''—the book is pleasing and thought-provoking. A gallery of small photos of the parks featured provide extra information and some follow-up questions. (Nonfiction. 5-8)