Grandpa Green

by Lane Smith

A Caldecott Honor Book

From the creator of the national bestseller It's a Book comes a Caldecott Honor-winning timeless story of family history, legacy, and love.

Grandpa Green wasn't always a gardener. He was a farmboy and a kid with chickenpox and a soldier and, most of all, an artist. In this captivating new picture book, readers follow Grandpa Green's great-grandson into a garden he created, a fantastic world where memories are handed down in the fanciful shapes of topiary trees and imagination recreates things forgotten.

In his most enigmatic and beautiful work to date, 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.

This title has Common Core connections.

Grandpa Green is a Publishers Weekly Best Children's Picture Books title for 2011.
One of School Library Journal's Best Picture Books of 2011.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Realistic Fiction, Nature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 30, 2011

About the author

Lane Smith was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but moved to Corona, California at a young age. He spent summers in Tulsa, however, and cites experiences there as inspirations for his work, saying that "[o]nce you've seen a 100-foot cement buffalo on top of a donut-stand (sic) in the middle of nowhere, you're never the same."

He studied art in college at the encouragement of his high school art teacher, helping to pay for it by working as a janitor at Disneyland. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration, and moved to New York City, where he was hired to do illustrations for various publications including Time, Mother Jones, and Ms..

Smith is married to Molly Leach, who is a book designer and designed the Smith/Scieszka collaboration.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/lanesmith

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book keeps you guessing what is happening. Is the plant the person the narrator is talking about or is it the little boy? Who’s telling the story? We see all these plants shaped into animals and people in a garden in fantastic ways. It seems the garden is alive and it has all these stories to tell. I don’t want to spoil the ending as it is rather clever the way it gets the point across.

The artwork is creative and the pages feel like they are full of life and growth and curiosity. The story is of someone who grows up with hopes and dreams and they make a life together. The main color in the book is green and a little red thrown in.

The kids do like gardens and they had fun figuring out what was going on. The nephew was convinced that the plants were alive and talking. He thought it was some sort of plant monster doing the talking. He kinda liked this story and he gave this 3 stars. He thought the ending was kinda boring. The niece thought this was a fun idea and she figured that someone else was involved with the plants. She did figure it out before the end. She enjoyed the guessing and she gave this quick story 4 stars.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most stunning children's book about topiary I have ever seen. Edward Scissorhands has got nothing on Grandpa Green!

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

“He was a boy on a farm and a kid with chickenpox. He was a soldier and a husband, and a gardener, and most of all, an artist.”

I have read many books that were either illustrated or written by Lane Smith and some of my favorite books that were both illustrated and written by Lane Smith was “It’s a Book.” But, I had discovered this new book by Lane Smith called “Grandpa Green,” which was a Caldecott Honor book and it was seriously one of Lane Smith’s most heartwarming books ever written!

The book starts off with a young boy narrating the life of his grandfather and how his grandfather had started out as a child growing up on the farm to fighting in the war to eventually becoming a loving husband. The grandfather’s life story is told through the bush sculptures that he creates in his garden in order to help him remember his past life.

Now, I will admit that even though I did not understand this book when I first read it, when I read this book the second time around, I ended up really loving the emotional tone of the story! Lane Smith has truly crafted a heartwarming story about a boy’s grandfather’s life being told through his gardening work as the grandfather makes sculptures of people and places from his past life through the garden shrubbery. I also loved the way that Lane Smith narrated the life of the boy’s grandfather as the grandfather went through so many events during his life such as fighting in a war and then getting married as it made the story truly uplifting and passionate to read and I truly could relate to the grandfather as he went through so many events in his life that made his life truly inspiring to his great-grandson. Lane Smith’s artwork is truly gorgeous as the garden shrubbery are the ones that are mostly colored in green, which really stands out from the rest of the illustration’s more lighter tones and I loved the way that the garden shrubberies would take various shapes such as people and airplanes as the boy is describing his grandfather’s life to the readers.



Overall, “Grandpa Green” is a truly inspirational and beautiful book that children who have grandparents that have accomplished many great things in their lives should definitely check out this book! I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since some children might be a bit confused about what the story is all about when they read this book the first time around.


Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I'm wrong and more kids will be drawn into the images than I realize, but I'm having trouble seeing Grandpa Green as anything other than a father's or grandparent's day gift. It's a picture book for adults (which the dump will tell you itself), specifically male adults and I'm curious as to how engaging child readers will find it. That's okay though. Clearly Lane Smith is well into a point in his career where he can write picture books for whomever he likes, regardless of how small the intended audience may be.

If you want to bring a tear to grandpa's eye, this sentimental number might be just the thing. While the writing wasn't especially my cup of tea, the illustration was just what I'd hoped for -- beautiful and expertly designed.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art = 10 stars
Story = 3 stars

[Steph Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal children's book. The illustrations are very well done. A great-grandson tells the story of his great-grandpa's life with the help of drawings of artistically manicured shrubbery. This was very well done and sure to become a favorite among kids and parents alike.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd much sooner have made this one the Caldecott winner this year that Chris Raschka's book. The story is told by a little boy who can be seen walking through a very unusual garden, and picking up various objects to put in his wagon as he goes. The real story is told by the illustrations, which are shaped like objects and events in the boy's description of his grandfather, the man who created the wonderful garden he is walking through. It took me a few pages to realize that the hedges and bushes were trimmed into objects matching the story, but once I caught on, it was absolutely delightful. I only wondered about one thing--how did Lane Smith get away with the cleavage on the bush shaped like his future wife? Aside from that, the book was a visual pleasure, especially the surprise 4-page spread at the end. Highly recommended!

[Boni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art is of course fabulous (Lane Smith is a genius), but I think the story is a bit confusing for kids. Will wait a bit, then re-read- maybe it will strike me differently next time. Meanwhile, I'd venture this one is a picture book more for grown-ups- albeit a lovely one.

[Agnė · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5

Grandpa Green is a heartwarming picturebook about a long, challenging yet ultimately fulfilling life of a great grandpa as told by his great grandson and whimsical, creative topiaries:

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grandpa Green was born long ago. He grew up on a farm, got chicken pox in fourth grade, and kissed a girl in middle school. Though he wanted to be a horticulturist, he ended up going to war. There he met his future wife, whom he married when the war ended. Now Grandpa Green is getting old and starting to forget things. But he doesn’t forget the most important things, because the garden keeps his memories for him.

Smith has created an amazing world in the pages of this book. It is a place where a man brings his memories to life through topiary, each one more inventive and beautiful than the next. Smith has kept his words simple. Just enough to move the story forward.

It is the pictures that tell the story here. Smith has lightened the characters down to line drawings and subtle color. The topiaries are a vivid green, bursting with life against the white of the page. Grandpa’s memories are more solid than the real world, which works beautifully with the story. The topiaries are whimsical and gorgeous, shown as the little boy moves through the garden and interacts with them. There is one amazing page with the boy hanging from a branch of a giant tree where the leaves turn from green to autumn to bare branches as the eye moves across the tree. It is a visual of aging that works beautifully.

This is a creative and amazing picture book that brings memories to green life, celebrates a great-grandfather, and shows the relationship between him and his great-grandson. It is a triumph of a picture book! One of my favorites of the year, and one that should be under consideration for a Caldecott. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

11/26/11 What a beautiful book! I love the pen and sponge illustrations, and the story is really cute too.

1/25/14 This is probably the best example of a layered picture book I have ever seen, with three stories in one. You have the rather simple narrative of the boy telling the story of his great-grandfather, all in the text. Then you have the story of the little boy tending and playing in the garden. And then there’s the story told in the topiary garden itself—a legacy left by an old man to his children. I know that having a book written and illustrated by one person lends itself to this kind of layering as the artist knows when to let the pictures speak and when the words are needed, but it got me thinking about how and where writers can leave room for the illustrations.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures are beautifully done with clever aids to the storytelling that you must seek out.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this mesmerizing picture book of intertwining generations, a great-grandson discovers the details of his Grandpa Green’s life by exploring a most unusual topiary garden. Like a cast of characters on a stage, Grandpa’s leafy green figures are symbolic representations of his life story—chicks hatching from eggs, a bushy cannon and parachuting soldiers; a giant wedding cake topped with a youthful bride and groom. Smith’s mixed media illustrations are both playful and brimming with meaning. In one-two page spread, the little boy clad in overalls hangs from an gnarled, old tree with limbs spread wide, and he reflects that his grandfather is “pretty old.” In the background, a giant topiary in the shape of an elephant alludes to grandpa’s fading memory. Whether kids reading this story will capture all messages hidden in the brief text and pictures remains to be seen, but the message that grandkids and grandparents have plenty to offer will be sure to hit home to the young and old alike.

[Suzette Pereyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandpa Green is a 2012 Caldecott Award Winning picture book, found on the Caldecott Award website. I listened to it on You Tube. It was written and illustrated by Lane Smith. This book tells the entire life of a person through extremely creative and beautiful topiary illustrations and short descriptive sentences on each page. It covers almost an entire century! The illustrations and vocabulary date back before World War II. Although the sentences are short, there are vocabulary words and expressions that may need to be explained to second language students. This would be a good book to use for 2nd-3rd graders to show perspectives. The students could work in pairs and one person could summarize the story from the great-grandfather's point of view, and their partner could summarize the story from the great-grandson's point of view.

[Luann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read through this at least four times - and enjoyed it more each time. What a sweet and touching story! There are lots of details to notice and put together - and they come together in such an amazing and awesome way! THIS should have won the Caldecott Medal for this year! Although I'm very glad it at least won a Caldecott Honor - otherwise I might never have known about it and read it.

This is a picture book that works for any age. There are layers here - and great-grandparents can probably appreciate this story better than any other age. How many picture books can you say that about? :) I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend it to anyone and everyone!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! I thought it was so clever how the garden showcases the grandfather's life. I love that while the story is fairly simple, it hints at a rich life filled with joy and sorrow, hobbies, family, love, difficulty and triumph. And the illustrations really are the star of the show in this sweet book. It made me think of my grandpa, who I miss a great deal, and what remains to remember his life (not much that is tangible...mostly just the stories that his descendants remember...and yet his life was also filled with joy and sorrow, difficulty and triumph and a great deal of love and tenderness!) Love, love, love this!!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caldecott Honor 2012

This one is so sweet. Told through the eyes of a great-grandson, he tells the life story of his great grandpa. His great grandpa loves horticulture and the illustrations to the story are all done using topiary garden figures. This book subtlety and cleverly expresses love, family, and a generation of life before now, in this heartwarming picture book.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

چقدر طرح‌های زیبایی داشت. و چقدر لطیف و آروم حرفش رو زد.
۲.۱۴۰۴

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely. Just lovely.

[Buchdoktor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein kleiner Junge in Latzhosen, der mich an Sempés kleinen Nick erinnert, strolcht durch einen märchenhaften Garten aus Buchsbaumfiguren und sehr alten Bäumen. Einige Buchsbaumfiguren wirken wie Ungeheuer, sie scheinen zu leben und erleben Abenteuer. Ein fit und sehr freundlich wirkender Großvater beschneidet die Buchsbäume. Schon lange muss er diesen Garten gepflegt haben, denn es gibt bereits ein dicht gewachsenes Labyrinth. Der Urenkel erzählt die Lebensgeschichte seines Großvaters und er scheint der kleine Latzhosenträger zu sein. Der Opa wuchs in einer Zeit ohne Fernsehen, Computer und Handys auf und wollte gern Gartenbau studieren. Doch stattdessen musste er in den Krieg ziehen – im Hintergrund sind Hinweise auf Frankreich zu sehen – lernte dort seine Frau kennen und heiratete sie. Inzwischen vergisst der Großvater im Garten mal seinen Hut, mal seine Brille, doch der Urenkel bringt sie ihm stets zurück. Auf einer Doppelseite mit zusätzlichen Klappen ist in vierfacher Breite der Garten auf dem Höhepunkt seiner Pracht zu sehen - grüner, dunkler und märchenhafter als zuvor. Irgendwo im Hintergrund weist der Eiffelturm auf die glückliche Ehe der Großeltern hin.

Die Geschichte, deren Illustrationen mit nur drei Farben auskommen, endet offen. Als Betrachter fühlt man sich versöhnt mit einem Leben, das glücklich war, obwohl der Großvater seinen Traum erst auf Umwegen verwirklichen konnte. Ein starkes Buch für Kinder ab 4 Jahre, auch als Geschenk für erwachsene Gartenliebhaber empfohlen.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book by usual funny guy Lane Smith deviates from his usual fare to tell the touching story of a grandpa and his garden. The story opens with a giant topiary baby, made to look like it's crying. The texture and color of the greenery show us that the baby is a bush, not a person, but the text doesn't tell us who it is meant to portray. Rather, it simply begins, "He was born a really long time ago[.]"

The second page gives us a better idea of what's going on. We meet our narrator, a little boy in overalls, who is turning the knob on a hose. Down a long path on the recto side of the page, we see trees, bushes, and more topiaries. It's clear that we're in a garden. As the book progresses, the boy leads us through more and more scenes in the life of the garden's creator, who, we begin to realize, is his great-grandfather, Grandpa Green. The garden brings us right up the present, where rows upon rows of little topiary people stand - and then the boy tells us, "He used to remember everything." But now Grandpa Green is old and has started to forget. Where does he keep his memories? A long, pull-out illustration of Grandpa's entire garden gives us the answer.

I was really blown away by this book. It managed to manipulate my emotions in just the right way, so that the big reveal brought about sudden and spontaneous tears. The story is deceptively simple, and the illustrations are gorgeous. I love the contrast between the lush greenery of each of Grandpa's carefully sculpted bushes, with the pencil drawings that portray tree trunks, the little boy, his wagon, and eventually, Grandpa himself. I also liked the juxtaposition of the little boy's spirited youth, with Grandpa's slowing down and slowly fading. The text has a real sincerity and truth to it, and the story arc is well-executed and ends at just the right moment. I tend to think of books about aging and death as either overly weepy or overly cheesy, but this book strikes just the right balance. I was moved, but not devastated, and though I felt sadness, I also felt a sense of hope and comfort, knowing that Grandpa's life was filled with wonderful memories.

I think this book would certainly provide that same sense for preschoolers, without upsetting them or causing them to worry. And now that I've seen this side of Lane Smith, I have to wonder what other sides of his talent the world has yet to see!

Read for #nerdcott. Reviewed in Caldecott Challenge Post #80: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

[Crystal Marcos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited when I watched the book trailer for Grandpa Green. The illustrations are wonderful. The combination of brush and waterproof drawing ink, watercolor, oil paint, and digital paint between the characters and the garden were very nicely done. I am not really sure if the prominently green book will appeal to children. In all honesty this book seems like a story for adults. There is one particular illustration that just doesn't seem like it fits in a children's book. The garden looks like a war scene. The little boy is in this seen. A cannon is firing over his head and a plane appears to be going down in flames, soldiers in parachutes falling from the sky, and what is all the red splatter? Blood or booms is my only guess. There are a great number of children who's parents are in the military and serve over seas. Scenes like this could potentially upset a child. Maybe I am a little sensitive to the issue since my brother-in-law has a toddler and he often goes to foreign countries to clean up the aftermath of bombs or to disarm them.

This story about a great grandson walking through his great grandfather's garden is a good concept. The garden retells his grandfather's life. I think this book would probably be best as a gift for a grandparent.

I normally don't talk about the construction of a book. However, the book contains a fold out that in my opinion is poorly designed. The flap pages should be slightly shorter to prevent the pages from creasing when the book is closed. This book is a new book from the library and I was surprised to find that the next time I opened the book the flaps were creased.

[Marika Gillis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In honor of Grandparent’s Day, I re-read a favorite Lane Smith picture book, Grandpa Green. Lane Smith is most notable for his illustrations (like the ones in James and the Giant Peach and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs) but he has also written a lot of great picture books, such as John, Paul, George, and Ben and The Happy Hocky Family.

In this book, a great-grandson recalls the events of his horticulture-loving great-grandfather’s life. The simple, straightforward sentences delightfully capture a poignant mood as the child fondly tells his great-grandfather’s story and honors his legacy while traipsing through topiary bushes with his wagon. The beautiful shades of green that pop off every page are pleasing to the eye and make it clear why this book was a Caldecott Honor award winner. I also appreciate the literary references when Smith writes about how Grandpa Green became ill with chicken pox and how “He had to stay home from school. So he read stories about secret gardens and wizards and a little engine that could.” In fact, the more I have read this book over the years, the more I have appreciated it. It’s the perfect picture book for a little one to cozy up with Grandma or Grandpa and read together! Someday, I would love to have students (or my own kids) write their own version of Grandpa Green for their own grandparent. It would be the most meaningful and heartwarming present. This review was first published on my blog: Get Your Book On

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this story. The biography of a man told in topiary. The narrative is very sparse and simple, but so much of the story is told within the shapes, characters and creatures in the topiary garden.

I love the relationship between the great-grandson and his great-grandfather and how he is aware of the man's past, if only the basic details. I love the warmth and familial ties that are woven throughout the green leaves and branches and it's a story that just makes me smile. We really enjoyed reading it together and I have read it again on my own several times more.

We were introduced to Lane Smith's illustrations from his collaboration with Jon Scieszka on the Time Warp Trio series, but have really come to appreciate his work as both an author and illustrator. This book was certainly worthy of it's Caldecott Honor.

This book was selected as one of the books for the September 2017- Caldecott Honors 2008-2012 discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lane Smith's quirky humor, some topiaries, and you've got a winner.

A blogger I read said this was a book that was "for adults" so she resented having to purchase it because of the Caldecott Honor (2012). I can see her point, but I also wonder if this book couldn't be used to begin a conversation with a child about why grandpa or grandma, or even mom or dad doesn't always remember. Or can seem to remember things from 40 years ago, but doesn't know the child's name. More and more families have a member suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's.

Perhaps this struck a chord with me because a boy I used to ride around in wagons with playing store is having to deal with early-onset Alzheimer's with his father, who is my parent's age.

Nevertheless, while this isn't a book that all kids will understand or appreciate, I don't think it can be dismissed as purely an "adult" book. I think this one is in the same category as Pixar films-- kids and adults love and relate to them on different levels.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I look at this book through the eyes of the intended audience, a child, I don't think "Grandpa Green" by Lane Smith succeeds. I could not figure out where this was going. I couldn't figure out who the "he" in the book's opening was: "He was born a really long time ago..." Was it the green, fantasy-like creature portrayed on the first page? Was it the little boy whom we follow through the garden? Nope - it is the boy's grandfather, which is revealed at the very end of the book. Perhaps, this was the author's intent, but I felt it was very confusing. The theme of dementia/memory loss/Alzheimer's is certainly worthy, and handled here with care. But it may just be too subtle for the intended audience. The use of green illustrations with moments of red, and how that ties into the "Grandpa Green" title and theme is interesting but not necessarily compelling.

Just so so for me. In terms of Caldecott contenders, there are better choices out there for 2011.

[Carolynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gentle story from an author whose illustrations are usually quirky and humorous, but this time more reflective, and, well, a little bit quirky too. This moving story describes the life of a boy who grows up to be a gifted horticulturalist, and who tells his own story in topiary shrubs. Language is quite simple (Lexile measure is 470), but it is a book best shared with a loving parent or grandparent. Compare to Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs and Now One Foot, Now the Other, both by Tomie dePaola.

Lane Smith is a winner of the Caldecott Honor award for this book and for The Stinky Cheese Man, (1993). Four of his books have won the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award and several of his books, including It's a Book, John, Paul George & Ben and Madam President have been New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestsellers.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Grandpa Green by Lane Smith, the color green is so brilliantly displayed throughout the book, there hasn't been such a powerful defining statement of that hue since Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree. The pages were so beautiful and almost life-like, I was careful to turn each page so as not to "disturb the scenery." How precious is Grandpa Green to recreate all the special memories of his life in topiary form. Couldn't help but think of two very impactful relationships in my life with each of my grandpas when I read this. The sentimentality of Grandpa Green might be lost on children, but it will be especially meaningful to its adult readers. Could be appropriate for a read aloud at a school's Grandparent's Day celebration.

[Ashley Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audience: Boys and girls from grades 1st-3rd or any child that has a special relationship with their grandpa.

Award list: 2012 Caldecott Honor book.

Appeal: I loved this story, probably because I have a special relationship with my papa. The way the bushes described the story was really neat. The part of the story where the pages fold out at the end is unique and probably only for the teacher to do (we don't want any ripped pages). It overall was a sweet and kind-hearted story that made me smile.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The picture book, Grandpa Green, by Lane Smith follows Grandpa Green’s life from a boyhood and beyond through the perspective of his grandson. Through the bonds of family and love, Grandpa Green shares his passion for gardening with his grandson. The illustrations in this book are extraordinary and display important ideas of the circle of life. I was most entranced by the illustrations in the story and how the shrubby evolves throughout the pages. The illustrations are extremely detailed and vibrant. This Caldecott Honor Book is appropriate for students in K through 4th grade.