Green

April has been designated School Library Media Month and Gardening Month. Since both causes are dear to my heart, I set aside this day early in April to celebrate both so that the party can continue through the rest of April. I believe that school libraries, or media centers, have done more to help children in America love books than any other institution. For so many children the school library is the only place where they have easy access to books. If I could recommend one new title this spring for both school librarians and dedicated gardeners, it would be Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s fantastic new picture book Green.

I must admit that I go nuts every spring when the trees begin to develop lime green leaves. But until I picked up Green, I had never thought about how many different kinds of green can be found in the world. Seeger takes successive double-page spreads to explore this idea. Readers first encounter forest green, with only white type and a white bunny interrupting the deep dark color of the woods. Two cutouts on the page appear to be leaves, but when the page is turned they become fishes in a mass of sea green. The cutouts allow the book to become a guessing game and lead to the next shade of green. In a dramatic spread, a tiger with glowing eyes serves as the foil for a scene of jungle green. With one absolutely breathtaking scene after another, Seeger explores plants, animals, concepts (faded green), color theory, and shapes in a very accessible format. The book can lead to all kinds of discussions, depending on the interests of the adult or the child. For those interested in seeing the entire book, a book trailer can be viewed here.

With books like Lemons Are Not Red, First the Egg, and Black and White, in a few short years Laura Vaccaro Seeger has become the most exciting and versatile author-illustrator making books for readers ages two through five. Green presents this talented creator working at the top of her craft—with assurance and creativity.

In the final sequence a child plants a small shoot that will develop into a large tree, “forever green.” That is true for the book itself. I believe Green will be entertaining young children for decades to come.

Here’s a page from Green: