Review of Grandpa Green written and illustrated by Lane Smith

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Smith, Lane. Grandpa Green. Ill by Lane Smith. New York: MacMillan, Roaring Book Press, 2011. ISBN: 978159643607

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PLOT SUMMARY

Grandpa Green was born before computers, cellphones, or television. The story follows Grandpa Green throughout his life. He got the chicken pox, he became a soldier in a world war, met his future wife and married her, and he became an artist working as a gardener and shaping trees and bushes into various colorful characters. Finally, he has children, many grandchildren, and one great grandchild who is the narrator of the story. Grandpa Green created a magical world to hand down to his family to enjoy for years to come.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The beautiful color illustrations attract a reader’s attention immediately. Various people are introduced as beautifully sculpted trees and bushes creating a magical feel to the book. The reader follows Grandpa Green throughout his life whose real ambition was to become a horticulturalist. He goes to war, meets his eventual wife in Paris (a drawing of the Eiffel Tower appears in the background when he meets her), marries her and finally gets to fulfill his dream. This is a wonderful book about aging, memory, family history, a love of nature, and love. The book is filled with stunning artwork by the author making it a truly visual treat.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

2012 Caldecott Honor Book

Publisher’s Weekly Best Children’s Picture Books in 2011

One of School Library Journal’s Best Picture Books of 2011

School Library Journal wrote, “Visually intriguing and emotionally resonant, this is a book to pore over and talk about. With each subsequent reading, it offers new layers of meaning and visual connections.”

 The New Yorker wrote, “In this affecting picture book, a boy recounts the life of his beloved great-grandfather…The author’s illustrations, a blend of line drawings and sponge painting, have a classic feel, and make clever use of the topiary theme, rewarding close examination and repeated reading.”

Shelf Awareness wrote, “Opening this book is like opening a gate to a secret garden, filled with the treasures of a life well lived. In his portrait of a boy who adores and honors his forgetful great-grandfather, Smith shows us that the things that are meaningful to the ones we love become part of our garden, too.”

CONNECTIONS

Read other Lane Smith books, such as

·            Smith, Lane. It’s a book. ISBN: 159643609

·            Caldecott Medal winner in 1993 – Scieszka, Jon. Ill. by Lane Smith. The Stinky Cheese Man. ISBN: 067084487X

·            Scieszka Jon. Ill. by Lane Smith. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! ISBN: 0670827592

Ø  This book would be an excellent tool to teach children about the importance of family history, aging, love, memory, and the love of nature.