Genre 1 - PICTURE BOOKS

GRANDPA GREEN

written and illustrated by Lane Smith

Summary

Grandpa Green is a multi-generational story told through the eyes of a young boy as he remembers all the snippets his great-grandfather shared with him over the years.  The beautiful garden topiaries flow from page to page and act as a visual timeline of Grandpa Green's life, aptly depicting the events narrated by his great-grandson.  The topiaries follow his life from birth to old age, helping Grandpa remember the important times in his life as he ages.

Critical Analysis

This charming story, told through the eyes of a loving grandson, melds history, love, family, and aging in such a positive manner.  Lane Smith keeps the language simple and appropriately told from the young grandson’s perspective.  As the reader moves through each page, we follow the grandson and his wagon as he fills it with items from the garden.  Not until the very end does the reader realize the significance of those items: Grandpa has become forgetful.  The beautiful four-page spread at the end of the book easily creates another character of the garden through the personification “the garden remembers for him.”

Smith created part of the illustrations for this book with a brush and waterproof drawing ink.  For the foliage he used watercolor, oil paint, and digital paint.  Because green is primarily used to create the illustrations, the bits of color Lane does use are noticed more by the reader.  The pictures are vibrant and detailed, yet simple and intriguing, allowing discovery as the story unfolds.  If the reading is hurried, much of the story will be missed.  Each reading allows the reader to find something new in the visual story.

My first time through this book, I was mindful to ignore the text and simply enjoy the pictures.  That first pass did not give me the whole story, but it did provide a framework for what would come next.  As I read each printed page, I made connections to the illustration accompanying each memory.  I found more connections each time through.  I think children will enjoy discovering the pictures in this book, however, without adult interaction, I think the story itself will be lost on young children.  This is definitely a book to be shared, hopefully on the lap of a beloved grandparent.

The young boy in this story is light skinned, but the story transcends any particular culture; because family relations are evident in all cultures, I see no reason this book could not be used in any setting or community.

Review Excerpts

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “It’s apt that the book trailer ends with the tagline “For grownups to read to those still growing”, because that is exactly the setting needed for this book to reach its full potential.”

THE HORN BOOK:  “In order for the story to be fully appreciated, the reader has to read the pictures slowly.”

BOOKLIST ONLINE:  “Possibly a bit disorienting for the very young, but the perfect book to help kids understand old age.”

AMAZON:  “Lane Smith explores aging, memory, and the bonds of family history and love; by turns touching and whimsical, it's a stunning picture book that parents and grandparents will be sharing with children for years to come.”

Connections

Pairing Grandpa Green with Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox would highlight the use of memories used in both stories.  This would lend itself well to interviewing a grandparent (or other older person) about the memories in their life.  These interviews, and the answers received, could be the end of the activity or, in the case of an older child, could lead to a creative writing activity, such as writing a memoir from the interviewee’s life.

Two more books that would work well with Grandpa Green is Abuelita Full of Life: Abuelita Ilena de vida by Amy Costales and A Walk with Grandpa: Un paseocon abuelo by Sharon Solomon.  These books are also about elderly grandparents who have special relationships with their grandchildren. 

All of these books would create opening for conversation when shared by a grandparent and their grandchild.

Awards

New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book 2011
Silver Medal - Society of Illustrators 2011
Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Picture Book 2011
Caldecott Honor Book 2012

Smith, Lane. 2011. Grandpa Green. Ill. by Lane Smith. New York: Roaring Book Press.  ISBN 978-1-59643-607-7