Verdi

My 6yo chose this book from our library, so forgive me for using this medium to review a book we didn't buy here. Truth is, this book led me here. The story is great, especially for me as a biology teacher whose fave color is green. But I was absolutely impressed with the illustrations, so much so that I searched the fine print of the book to find the illustrator's name. Janelle Cannon is brilliant!!! This book has appeal for children, nature lovers, budding artists, and more, with an important life lesson or two as well.

This book would make a wonderful tongue-in-cheek gift for your friends who are trying to outrun time by dyeing away those gray hairs. Verdi knows that he will lose his brilliant yellow skin and turn green as the forest when he gets older and, being a typical young know-it-all, declares that he won't let it happen. Of course, age creeps up on all of us and Verdi finds that he has become a large green snake after all, content to lie on a branch and observe the world as it passes. I like Verdi as a character very much; we cheer him on through the story in his quest for eternal youth and we enjoy his calm acceptance when he does relax and let his body change as it will. The only reason I'm giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because of some of the language; I don't like how the younger snakes are rude to the older ones. Verdi stares, fidgits, and interrupts his elders and so do the young snakes we meet at the end of the book who are belittling him - "Get a load of that old green guy," one of them whispered. "Do you think he ever moves?" The other snickered. "I seriously doubt it." I don't really appreciate this atmosphere of disrespect filtering into my home but I think the rest of the book is good enough that I intend to continue to check the book out from our library. I don't know if I would buy a copy, though. I do think that this story has potential in first grade to go along with an introduction to Form Drawing - Verdi, in his younger days, has a penchant for leaping from trees and forming shapes in the air such as a spiral and a figure eight.

This book was enjoyed by all 3 kids. My girls loved it as much as my son. It is also educational which is a big plus!

This book is about a snake named Verdi that doesnt want to turn green. Verdi is a young yellow snake that is very athletic. When Verdi visits other snakes that are old, boring and green he hopes that he will never be like them that is when the trouble starts.I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 because it was a good story and had great illustrations. I would recommend this book to people that enjoy reading about animals and to artist that like to draw animals.

It's about time someone wrote a kids book where the snake is a hero, not a villain! (There have been others, but they are few and far between)...Verdi was the best kids snake story I've ever read. Being a reptile keeper, I really appreciate this little story! What a great idea for a story PLUS snake facts at the end, teaching kids about the green tree python. More books like this would be excellent. Kids need to learn to appreciate snakes, and stories like this show that snakes aren't bad guys!! A++++++++++++++++++!!!!

i work in the public library system here in st. louis, mo, and i almost never get a chance to put "verdi" on the shelve. why? because it's ALWAYS checked out! both parents and children love this coming of age story about a young snake who, like everyone else in life, is afraid of becoming "old" and "boring". once he realizes that with age comes wisdom, he's much happier as an older, greener snake than a younger, more yellow snake. i read this book whenever i get a chance, and because of the kids at the library, that's not very often!