Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Today I am sharing a new picture book that teaches kids about the idea of the seasons of life going with the seasons of the year. The book is Greenlee Is Growing by Anthony DeStefano and illustrated by Louise A. Ellis. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.
From the Publisher:
A beautiful, poetic rhyming picture book celebrating the four seasons and how they interact with the seasons of our lives, from the award-winning, bestselling author of The Donkey That No One Could Ride.We first meet Greenlee as a young girl of three, in the flowering springtime of life. Greenlee Is Growing follows her through the spring of her youth and the summer of her adulthood. By the end of the book, she is a lovely old woman knitting by the fire in the cold days of winter.
Springtime is here! Springtime is here!
Snowstorms are gone and flowers appear.
Summer is here! Summer is here!
The days are much warmer and rainbows appear.
Autumn is here! Autumn is here!
Red, gold, and brown leaves and pumpkins appear.
Winter is here! Winter is here!
The days are much shorter and snowflakes appear.
Brave the harsh weather, don’t be afraid,
the end of the year God also has made.
For beautiful Springtime will be back, and then
new joys and new life will rise up again!
Anthony DeStefano has woven a timeless story of faith and fortitude with gentle joy that people of all ages will love reading.
From Me:
This book is beautiful. The words are written in verse and describe each season of the year. In spring everything is coming alive again, and Greenlee is a young girl. She is running and playing in the spring. In the summer the weather turns warmer and school is out. Greenlee is now older and falling in love. The mystery of fall comes next and Greenlee is sitting next to her own children by a fire. In the cold of winter we see Greenlee as a grandmother and near the end of her life.
The words are fun, and the illustrations are beautiful. They are colorful and it all gives you a great image of each season of the year. It shows also the seasons of life, but my one worry is that little ones will be confused. This book needs an explanation and conversation about the idea of life having seasons like the seasons of the year. For the younger age range for this book may not understand the analogy.
With the proper conversation, kids can learn about the seasons of the year as well as about growing and the analogy so often used. The book is wonderful and can be enjoyed by children as well as adults.
