SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

May 18, 2012 by Travis Jonker

Review: Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

May 18, 2012 by Travis Jonker   5 comments

Green
By Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan)

ISBN: 9781596433977
$16.99
Grades PreK-1
In Stores

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

*Best New Book*

Find it at:
Schuler Books | Your Library

The page turn – the way in which a picture book transitions from one page to the next – is something that lots of books ignore. Not the work of Laura Vaccaro Seeger. Every time out, Seeger’s page turns are carefully considered. And in the case of Seeger’s previous First the Egg and What If?, they are integral to the story. Add Green to this list. Dramatic, reflective, and playful, this is a concept book that works on multiple levels, and succeeds at all of them.

How many kinds of green are there? More than you might think. Each two-page spread reveals a new variation of the hue. Things begin fairly straightforward – forest green, sea green, lime green – but when a green-striped zebra shows up out of nowhere, you know to expect the unexpected. Things conclude on a quiet note (and come full circle) with a father and daughter enjoying the “forever green” of a tree.

The generous use of paint and visible brushstrokes makes the artwork appear nearly tactile. The use of die cuts add another level of interest and complexity. Readers will be anxious to spot the cut-out on each page and learn what it becomes in the following spread.

Although it debuted in the spring, this is a book for the whole year. Bound to be a “best of 2012” regular and contend for a Caldecott, Green is a page-turning success.

Review copy from the library

Watch the book trailer for Green (which takes you through the entire book):

Read an interview with Laura Vaccaro Seeger at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

Also reviewed by A Fuse #8 Production, Waking Brain Cells, A Year of Reading, Book-A-Day Almanac.

Filed under: Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
MacmillanPicture BookreviewRoaring Brook

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

December 2022

9 Books I Loved (But Didn't Review) in 2022

by Travis Jonker

March 2022

Books on Film: I Need a New Butt!

by Travis Jonker

March 2022

Behind the Scenes Q&A: Skater Baby by Jack Noel

by Travis Jonker

March 2022

2022 Books from Caldecott Winners

by Travis Jonker

February 2022

Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#35)

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Sydney Taylor Blog Tour: THE TOWER OF LIFE by Chana Stiefel and Susan Gal

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Who’s In Rabbit’s House by Verna Aardema, ill. Leo and Diane Dillon

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Kiss Number 8 | Review

by Johanna

Heavy Medal

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Holiday House and Pixel + Ink Showcase: New titles from the first half of 2023

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

4 Middle Grade & YA Nonfiction Titles to Help Heal the World

Looking for a Book to Read Aloud? These Classics Made the Hall of Fame.

24 Audiobooks To Encourage Ongoing Activism and Social Justice

Three Picture Books to Celebrate Black History

6 Middle Grade & YA Novels on Repeat for Groundhog Day

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol Hampton Rasco says

    May 18, 2012 at 2:14 am

    Ditto, Ditto, Ditto. This book is indeed a treasure and is one I am gifting frequently to all age friends. Bravo to Lauren Vaccaro Seeger.

  2. Sharon Creech says

    May 18, 2012 at 8:34 am

    Such a great trailer – thanks for the post and link!

  3. Abby says

    May 18, 2012 at 11:54 pm

    Yes! This book is amazing! I picked it up at my library last weekend and my friend and I pored over the whole thing. Definitely a Caldecott contender.

    • Travis says

      May 19, 2012 at 12:10 am

      I’m with you on all points, Abby

  4. Sherry says

    May 24, 2012 at 7:08 am

    Wonderful book and great review. Not eligible for Caldecott but a book you must see is I Saw A Peacock with a Fiery Tail. A beautiful die cut book of the 17th century poem.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023