Book Review: Grandpa Green
1.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Smith, Lane. 2011. Grandpa Green.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Grandpa Green’s great-grandson tells the life
story of his grandfather from childhood, fighting in a war, marriage and
finally to present day in chronological order as the young man walks through
Grandpa Green’s garden. As the story unfolds, topiaries illustrate the life of
Grandpa Green.
3.
CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
Smith has created a book with the theme of the importance of
family and the preservation of life experiences but the book will also appeal
to young readers who may not understand heavy themes. He also incorporates
memory loss and other problems of aging with grace and tact. Grandpa Green reads as though it could have
been a biography, lovingly written about almost any reader’s great-grandfather.
Seen through the eyes of the main character, the garden becomes a fanciful
playground and the topiaries appear to come to life. There isn’t a major
conflict for the protagonist, other than the acknowledgement of Grandpa Green’s
aging and that he may forget things, “But the important stuff the garden
remembers for him.”
The illustrations in Grandpa
Green are really the main focal point in the whole story. Everything the
protagonist says as he walks through the garden is imitated in the form of a
beautifully created topiary. The illustrations cover the page with the text of
the story placed within, so it almost feels as though you were walking through
the garden yourself. There is a playful nature to Smith’s way of illustration,
and the foliage is so lush it seems like you could touch the topiaries. The
climax of the book includes a 4 page illustration of Grandpa Green's life, with
the topiaries laid out almost like a timeline.
Lane Smith is a gifted storyteller and artist. Grandpa Green is not to be missed, and
is a book that should be enjoyed by the whole family.
4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
2012 Caldecott Honor Book
2012 Caldecott Honor Book
Starred review in School Library Journal: “Visually intriguing and emotionally resonant."
Positive review in Kirkus:
“A wonderful bridge to exploring family
history with the very young.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*This book would jump start a discussion on aging and the elderly. It would also be a wonderful addition to a discussion on family history and preserving memories.
* Use Grandpa Green during a storytime celebrating Grandparent's Day.
* As an enrichment activity, have the children create a family tree, or ask them to interview their parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents. Those interviews can be turned into homemade books and illustrated by the children.
* As an enrichment activity, have the children create a family tree, or ask them to interview their parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents. Those interviews can be turned into homemade books and illustrated by the children.
* Check out books written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by
Lane Smith.
* Other books by Lane Smith:
It’s a Book. ISBN 9781596436060The Big Elephant in the Room. ISBN 9781423116677
John, Paul, George and Ben. ISBN 9780786848935
I was really disappointed that this book did not win the Caldecott. I thought it was lovely and that the illustrations really drove the story which is what a good picture book does.
ReplyDeleteI agree Elizabeth. I think you could *almost* follow the plot of the book without even reading the text. The pictures were really wonderful and I enjoyed the whimsical nature of the topiaries.
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