Verdi

Rating:
Summary: After this, you'll love snakes!
Review: If you liked Stellaluna, you'll love Verdi. I have to admit that I was disappointed in Cannon's last book, Trupp. But with Verdi, she has returned to a top notch standing in my eyes. The colors are vibrant, the lines appealing and amusing, the story great. Verdi is a young snake full of vim, vigor, and vinegar. He'll never be old and stodgy like the rest of the snakes. Of course, after many adventures, he learns why the older snakes are more careful, and yes, darn it he does turn green, but stodgy, NEVER

Rating:
Summary: Family favorite!
Review: My son LOVES this story. We have checked it out from the library a dozen times and every time he craves more. Now he will have a copy of his own! A story of a young snake who doesn't want to grow up because the green (adult) snakes are boring. A wonderful tale of how it's the spirit inside one who gets old, not just by changing colors (or growing older!) Verdi maintains his adventurous humor while growing up without even realizing it!
LOVE IT!

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: Once a week I volunteer to read books with children at the local library. "Verdi" by Janell Cannon is one of the most popular choices (Ms. Cannon's "Stellaluna" is also highly popular). It seems that children of all ages enjoy this book about a little yellow snake who doesn't want to grow up and become a boring green adult.

As other reviewers have mentioned, this is a great coming of age story. We always discuss the books after reading them and after reading "Verdi," the kids always say something like "even adults were young once" or that "you can still have fun when you're a grown up."

I also must comment on the illustrations, as they are exquisite - so colorful and detailed. Everyone just loves looking through this book again and again.

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent illustrations!
Review: Reading some of the other reviews on this book, it's been interesting to get some other perspectives on the story.

Fundamentally the story is simple. Verdi the baby snake zipps around happily, bored by the big green (complaining) adults. In his amusing quest to remain yellow and striped (young) he gets injured. The greens (adult snakes) take care of him by straping him to a branch so that he can heal. During his forced convalescence, he notices for the first time some of the magical beauty about him. He also learns that the big greens were once young and reckless also. Their response to the injuries that they had suffered was to want to live "the quiet life". By the time that Verdi heals, he too is big and green. At the end of the story he comes across a couple of fidgety young yellow snakes (very much as he was) and ends up playing with them (although being a bit more cautious). After all, he may be big and green, but "I'm still me".

This is a great book on several different levels. First, putting the snake as the protagonist is a refreshing change. The snake is a creature with a home, the jungle, and the portrayal makes for a less scary oportunity for children to learn some snake facts. The illustrations also help with the educational aspect, being so inviting that you are really drawn into them. Also, it is a story about growth and choices.

The language is indeed very direct and simple. In reading the comments of another reviewer, I noted the reviewer's estimation of the writing as being not up to par. I would have to dissagree, although from a less experienced perspective as the reviewer. I feel that the voice of the snake is appropriately somewhat "young". Also, I feel that this is a book where the language is more of a narration to the amazing pictures, but that it works very well in this case. When I had the opportunity to read this to my son's kindergarten class, the children were all so "into" the story that they had a hard time staying on their mats. The illustrations work with the story. At the start, the colors are very beautiful, but when the story slows down as Verdi heals, the illustrations come alive with detail. Just as the story is making the point that when you slow down you can notice things you didn't see before, you end up spending a lot of time seeing the detail finding the little hidden critters in the jungle.

The story is about attitude, growth and wisdom, beautifully illustrated. Verdi learns about the beauty about him, that he only notices when he slows down to observe it, as well as the consequences of reckless behaviour. He also learns that turning green (growing older) doesn't mean that he can't enjoy his life, in fact finding wonderful new things that he hadn't known about before. Through it all, Verdi maintains his sense of wonder and fun. Can we hope for more from life?

Rating:
Summary: Verdi review
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: a great book about growing up and being yourself
Review: Verdi is a young yellow python who doesn't understand why the adult (green) pythons are such killjoys. He is playful and daring, until he hurts himself doing a stunt. The older pythons help nurse him back to health, while Verdi learns that once they, too were young and wild like he was.

The book is marvelous. It is extremely readable for young (3 - 6) year olds, and the art work is beautiful, with vivid colors and expressive characters (even for a snake!). Best of all, the story line is appropriate, with a message that is easily understood (be yourself; we were all young once) without being preachy. A wonderful children's book.