4 out of 4 stars
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If you are looking for a fun children’s story with a wonderful message, look no further than Little Green by Arnold Rudnick. It is a picture book about Little Green, a young frog that wants to play with other animals and do all the special things they do. He encounters geese, horses, and koi with their instructors and eagerly asks them if it’s possible for him to fly, gallop, and swim. Little Green has a positive attitude and keeps trying, but things don’t always work out as planned. When he becomes discouraged, who does he turn to for advice? His father, of course.
Is anything possible if you try hard enough? The book contains a universal message within an entertaining adventure. I don’t want to give spoilers, but children will be able to learn a useful lesson. You should always strive to do your best, but there are also important limitations to consider.
I loved everything about this book. It’s the type of story children will want to read over and over again. The rhyming text has a nice, natural flow without being overly simplistic. There are no awkward words or phrases written to fit into the rhyming scheme, as sometimes happens in other books. The author’s writing style is easy to understand and the book would be a perfect fit for a beginning reader. There are only a few words that children might have trouble understanding; for example, I doubt harrumphing and gait are familiar words to the younger set. Still, parents can certainly help with that and then the kids will have learned a few new, interesting words. The story is also educational as different animals are featured with their physical characteristics and skills.
I was really impressed with the beautiful artwork. The illustrator, Marcelo Gorenman, deserves a special mention for doing such a fabulous job, particularly with the characters’ facial expressions. Also, the text is written in a very attractive font and fits in well within each picture.
There is a surprise ending that both children and adults would enjoy. It’s fun and creative with a bit of sensitivity thrown in for good measure. Suffice it to say that the ending ties in nicely with the rest of the story.
My only minor gripe is that Little Green is a lackluster name for the main character in a children’s story. Since the frog’s name is also the book’s title, I wonder if a catchy name would attract more interest.
This delightful book deserves nothing less than 4 out of 4 stars. It has all the elements to engage and educate kids. I would recommend this story to children ages 2 through 8 as well as elementary school teachers. Hint to the author: write more books about Little Green!
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Little Green
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