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Greenling
A modern fable about nature's power from a Kate Greenaway Medal winner.
Mr. Barleycorn picks a green baby growing on his land, unleashing the incredible power of nature. When zucchinis flower in the kitchen and carrots sprout out of their television, Mr. Barleycorn’s wife insists that the Greenling has to go. But the bounty and beauty of nature have a strange power — the power to bring a whole community together.
Mr. Barleycorn picks a green baby growing on his land, unleashing the incredible power of nature. When zucchinis flower in the kitchen and carrots sprout out of their television, Mr. Barleycorn’s wife insists that the Greenling has to go. But the bounty and beauty of nature have a strange power — the power to bring a whole community together.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2016
175 people want to read
About the author
Levi Pinfold
31 books80 followersLevi Pinfold was born in the Forest of Dean. From a young age he loved books and comics and spent many of his days drawing and writing his own stories.
At the age of seven, Levi went to watercolour classes where he was introduced to the medium that he still works in. His love of stories, painting and the work of illustrators such as Maurice Sendak, Alan Lee and Dave McKean led him to study Illustration at the University College Falmouth, where he developed narrative illustrations in his own style - a stunning, stylised realism - creating his imagery from imagination.
Alongside painting, Levi writes stories in his spare time. Since graduating from University in 2006, Levi has worked as a self employed illustrator. The Django, his debut picture book, is inspired by Levi's love of music.
Levi won The Booktrust Early Years Award in the Best Emerging Illustrator Category for 2010 for The Django.
Levi is also one of 10 illustrators to win the Booktrust Best New Illustrators Award 2011.
His second picture book for Templar, Black Dog, was published in November 2011 to critical acclaim.
Levi is now living in Australia and working on a new picture book for Templar slated for 2014 publication.
Illustration Technique
Creating stories is an organic process for Levi. Sometimes he does a drawing and then the story might come afterwards which is common with people who write and illustrate. He likes to get the text finalised before he starts on illustrations.
Levi works up detailed roughs to arrange the order of illustrations so that both he and his publisher know what they are getting before he starts the long process of painting. He typically takes from one to three weeks on each illustration as he likes to paint a lot of detail as he enjoyed detailed illustrations as a child. As a child he absorbed himself in books and comics which were big influences on him as he grew up, as well as fine art as an adult.
Levi grew up on Roald Dahl and Morris Sendak, John Burningham, Pat Hutchins, and was obsessed with Clocks, Clocks and More Clocks. He now loves painters like Breugel, David Friedrich and the Romantics. He says that if you cast your net as wide as you can you can take bits from other artists. You can see what’s possible.
The Django was painted in watercolours and gouache and his latest book, Black Dog, is painted in tempera – a mix of pigment with egg and water which has the same light touch as gouache but you can lay down dark underwashes with.
At the age of seven, Levi went to watercolour classes where he was introduced to the medium that he still works in. His love of stories, painting and the work of illustrators such as Maurice Sendak, Alan Lee and Dave McKean led him to study Illustration at the University College Falmouth, where he developed narrative illustrations in his own style - a stunning, stylised realism - creating his imagery from imagination.
Alongside painting, Levi writes stories in his spare time. Since graduating from University in 2006, Levi has worked as a self employed illustrator. The Django, his debut picture book, is inspired by Levi's love of music.
Levi won The Booktrust Early Years Award in the Best Emerging Illustrator Category for 2010 for The Django.
Levi is also one of 10 illustrators to win the Booktrust Best New Illustrators Award 2011.
His second picture book for Templar, Black Dog, was published in November 2011 to critical acclaim.
Levi is now living in Australia and working on a new picture book for Templar slated for 2014 publication.
Illustration Technique
Creating stories is an organic process for Levi. Sometimes he does a drawing and then the story might come afterwards which is common with people who write and illustrate. He likes to get the text finalised before he starts on illustrations.
Levi works up detailed roughs to arrange the order of illustrations so that both he and his publisher know what they are getting before he starts the long process of painting. He typically takes from one to three weeks on each illustration as he likes to paint a lot of detail as he enjoyed detailed illustrations as a child. As a child he absorbed himself in books and comics which were big influences on him as he grew up, as well as fine art as an adult.
Levi grew up on Roald Dahl and Morris Sendak, John Burningham, Pat Hutchins, and was obsessed with Clocks, Clocks and More Clocks. He now loves painters like Breugel, David Friedrich and the Romantics. He says that if you cast your net as wide as you can you can take bits from other artists. You can see what’s possible.
The Django was painted in watercolours and gouache and his latest book, Black Dog, is painted in tempera – a mix of pigment with egg and water which has the same light touch as gouache but you can lay down dark underwashes with.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
October 30, 2021
A couple find a baby who is quite unusual. All he needs grows around him, he lives on fruit and vegetables. Despite being initially surprised by this child being different, his adoptive parents do all they can to help him, in turn he helps them quite a lot too.
A lovely story, nice to be surprised by a book and not be able to predict what on earth was going to happen! A fun story and I think children will appreciate how unusual this one is!
A lovely story, nice to be surprised by a book and not be able to predict what on earth was going to happen! A fun story and I think children will appreciate how unusual this one is!
November 2, 2015
No doubt, the illustrations are amazing, I mean sink into for days amazing.
But I found the meter to be difficult to get a bead on, the message to be simultaneously murky and ham-handed, and the style to be unlikely to appeal to most kids.
But I found the meter to be difficult to get a bead on, the message to be simultaneously murky and ham-handed, and the style to be unlikely to appeal to most kids.
Read
December 25, 2016I can't rate this yet; I'll have to let myself think on it. The blurb says it's a fable about nature. Ok. But I think it's also a fable about how a baby can change your life and your perspective. And I do not know which one word was said by the Greenling baby. I mean, Pinfold probably left it open to the reader's choice on purpose, but I can't come up with any interpretation that I like.
Very vegan friendly!
Very vegan friendly!
August 3, 2019
Strange things begin happening when Mr. Barleycorn brings home an odd green baby he finds growing in the cabbage patch on his property. The author's artwork is as fantastic as his tale.
November 14, 2017
It’s almost like they have adopted this child but it’s taken a while for the two members in this ‘family’ have to go through the hurdles to appreciate and find the good in the gift they’ve been given! An inner message to not almost bite the hand that feeds you ! Don’t take advantage of the gifts unknown people can provide!
Very interesting book with lots of inner meanings. Would be interesting to contact the illustrator maybe? If a possibility!
Very interesting book with lots of inner meanings. Would be interesting to contact the illustrator maybe? If a possibility!
December 14, 2019
Un libro precioso en todos los sentidos, tanto por el mensaje de amor y respeto hacia la naturaleza, como por las ilustraciones, ricas en detalles y a página completa. Un libro perfectamente editado al que hay que darle una oportunidad.
December 9, 2016
Another book where one moment made the experience! About 2/3 through the book, the words say: "Greenling sits up and speaks; an old magic word, long since forgotten, casts an odd spell for weeks..." The picture shows new flowers on his body, and a raised Buddha hand, but the word is not on the page. On the next page turn, the effects of the mystic word are played out. This was a brilliant call for readers to bring their own sensory imagery and ideas to the book. What was the word? Who knows. Nice work making me use the pictures, which are wonderful to look at anyway.
The verse was inconsistent and awkward in places, losing the rhythm. I wished he had chosen to just write in prose because I didn't think this particular meter (reminiscent of A.A. Milne or Lewis Carroll) did anything special for the story. Although the book appears to have an eco-friendly message, I don't think the story hit me over the head with this. I didn't believe the wife's antagonism. It seemed like an obvious moment where I could see the writer needing conflict and then simply writing her to supply it. I realize the picturebook is an elliptical form of writing, and we can't have all the backstory and character development of a novel, but this could have happened differently. The conflict was needed and was more interesting than if the two had both been head over heels about the green baby.
The verse was inconsistent and awkward in places, losing the rhythm. I wished he had chosen to just write in prose because I didn't think this particular meter (reminiscent of A.A. Milne or Lewis Carroll) did anything special for the story. Although the book appears to have an eco-friendly message, I don't think the story hit me over the head with this. I didn't believe the wife's antagonism. It seemed like an obvious moment where I could see the writer needing conflict and then simply writing her to supply it. I realize the picturebook is an elliptical form of writing, and we can't have all the backstory and character development of a novel, but this could have happened differently. The conflict was needed and was more interesting than if the two had both been head over heels about the green baby.
February 26, 2017
Ohh I loved it. The story was beautiful with lots of hidden meanings and the illustrations were lovely. A modern fairy tale.
August 13, 2022
En la tierra de los Barley, donde antes había un árbol, donde crecen las flores silvestres, ahora está creciendo algo. Un bebé muy diferente a los demás bebés.
El señor Barley lo lleva a casa pero la señora Barley es reticente pero aún así lo cuidan lo mejor que pueden.
A la mañana siguiente dentro de la casa han crecido y madurado melones, árboles frutales, calabazas, manzanas o menta.
Las plantas y las viñas invaden la casa y los aledaños lo que hace que un gran grupo de personas se establezcan en losn alrededores recogiendo frutos y disfrutando de la abundancia otorgada por el niño semilla. Pero llega el otoño.
Un espectacular álbum que rinde homenaje a la vida, a la naturaleza, al miedo a lo nuevo, a la aceptación y al desconsuelo ante la pérdida pero también a la esperanza de un futuro.
Un álbum exquisitamente ilustrado que a pesar de su brevedad te hace reflexionar.
Maravilloso.
El señor Barley lo lleva a casa pero la señora Barley es reticente pero aún así lo cuidan lo mejor que pueden.
A la mañana siguiente dentro de la casa han crecido y madurado melones, árboles frutales, calabazas, manzanas o menta.
Las plantas y las viñas invaden la casa y los aledaños lo que hace que un gran grupo de personas se establezcan en losn alrededores recogiendo frutos y disfrutando de la abundancia otorgada por el niño semilla. Pero llega el otoño.
Un espectacular álbum que rinde homenaje a la vida, a la naturaleza, al miedo a lo nuevo, a la aceptación y al desconsuelo ante la pérdida pero también a la esperanza de un futuro.
Un álbum exquisitamente ilustrado que a pesar de su brevedad te hace reflexionar.
Maravilloso.
October 25, 2021
I am giving this 4 stars because of comparisons to other books, my likeability of it, and how much I would want to read it again.
I loved the authors book, 'Black Dog' and wanted to get the rest of Levi's books. This one has great details in the drawings that will be fun to pour over, but not as many layers of interesting details as the other book Black Dog.
Like the other book, there is interesting discussions to be had when reading it with children, about why people at first would get upset, how we should deal with upset people, and when the people seemed to be lulled into happiness, is that all there is and thoughts about that...
The verse is great. The story is very different and fanciful but fun. So I recommend it, but wouldn't go shout from the rooftops to buy it like I would with Black Dog.
I loved the authors book, 'Black Dog' and wanted to get the rest of Levi's books. This one has great details in the drawings that will be fun to pour over, but not as many layers of interesting details as the other book Black Dog.
Like the other book, there is interesting discussions to be had when reading it with children, about why people at first would get upset, how we should deal with upset people, and when the people seemed to be lulled into happiness, is that all there is and thoughts about that...
The verse is great. The story is very different and fanciful but fun. So I recommend it, but wouldn't go shout from the rooftops to buy it like I would with Black Dog.
November 8, 2017
Absolutely incredible piece of work. The artwork is gorgeous and the story deep. There are so many things to say about this picture book. The way Pinfold uses contrasting colour to differentiate between the natural and the modern and the way the food ties them together. The quality of the narrative is excellent as well. An absolutely brilliant book for inferencing and analysing. An instant favourite.
November 15, 2017
This took me a second read to fully appreciate the use of pictures and colour in this book. Pinfold's use of sepia "Barley" like tones create a barren and dry existence. I felt there were lots of subtle hints of the rigidity in the Barleycorn's life before Greenling- from the colour palette, consistency of squares and rectangles around the house and barley based products at the bottom of their stairs.
I found it particularly interesting how Mr Barleycorn is very paternal towards Greenling, yet Mrs Barleycorn is more concerned that the peaceful, little sapling is intruding her ryvita kind of routine (I felt this challenged a stereotype) . I was a bit miffed about the use of triangular and diamond frames, however when Mrs Barleycorn says "We should welcome this Greenling into our house, we've been living in his all along" I begun to view them as a window on a front door.
Upon replanting Greenling in their house life becomes vibrant, natural and fruitful. He even leaves
them enough for Winter (which is probably pretty handy with barley not faring well in winter). The appearance/relevance of the Barleycorn's dog and it's loyalty to mirroring Mrs Barleycorn disdain I couldn't quite pin.
I'd love to see how Upper KS2 read this book. Rant over (for now)
I found it particularly interesting how Mr Barleycorn is very paternal towards Greenling, yet Mrs Barleycorn is more concerned that the peaceful, little sapling is intruding her ryvita kind of routine (I felt this challenged a stereotype) . I was a bit miffed about the use of triangular and diamond frames, however when Mrs Barleycorn says "We should welcome this Greenling into our house, we've been living in his all along" I begun to view them as a window on a front door.
Upon replanting Greenling in their house life becomes vibrant, natural and fruitful. He even leaves
them enough for Winter (which is probably pretty handy with barley not faring well in winter). The appearance/relevance of the Barleycorn's dog and it's loyalty to mirroring Mrs Barleycorn disdain I couldn't quite pin.
I'd love to see how Upper KS2 read this book. Rant over (for now)
November 20, 2018
Fantastic and detailed illustrations. I think the plot was quite mysterious and intriguing because the baby was ethereal. I'm not really sure what the plot was other than the wife originally didn't enjoy the positives of the baby and the season but then grew to love the season along with everyone in their village. I would recommend this book for children as it is a bit different.
March 12, 2017
A strange but interesting story with lots of hidden meanings and good morals taught. Very enticing and unique illustrations.
February 14, 2022
The illustrations in this book are amazing!!!
November 10, 2021
A clear environmentalist message about the importance of looking after the environment using a baby with the power to grow plants, fruits, and vegetables as a metaphor. I particularly like the line "We should welcome this Greenling into our house, we've been living in his all along!" as a comment on one of the many reasons why we should be caring for the planet.
September 16, 2021
Precioso álbum ilustrado, 90% de imágenes, poéticas y fieles a la naturaleza, que “invade” el mundo modificado por los hombres, freno y bendición a un tiempo.
January 5, 2024
I give 4 stars mainly for the illustrations. They are beautiful. A really pleasant story to read.
February 25, 2016
I need to reread this one a few times.
May 17, 2016
Sure to be a bigger hit with people who are more ecologically-minded, the story didn't do it for me. The illustrations were wonderful.
September 1, 2016
Truly surreal, with wonderfully bizarre illustrations.
November 18, 2018
An ambiguous tale that shows the great power of nature in both breaking down and building relationships, which perhaps should be embraced rather than feared. We see just how fragile things made by man really are, and the inability to resist the grasp of nature. Pinfold's work is always something to behold, and I think the beauty in this story resides in it's mystery. With every read I am filled with questions about Greenling and why the little being comes to stay in Barleycorn land, and each time I realize that I know less and less. A fantastic book that has a lot to say about attitudes towards the uncontrollable or the unknown.
June 22, 2017
This was an interesting tale. The greenlings a little creepy, but over all the story is nice. I loved the idea of a garden just growing wildly with fruits and vegetables! It's all due to the greenling. No body but the farmer likes it, initially, but his wife comes around when the townies say they need to get rid of the greenling. Everyone ultimately enjoys the greenlings fruits and vegetables. Illustrations were wild and wonderful. Not for little children. The rhyme scheme and odd use of language is going to throw the kids. I think maybe 3rd grade up.
November 14, 2017
A stunning book with a wealth of hidden meanings. Implied readers may include parents, adopted children/adults and people that can empathise with not feeling accepted. Also, the idea of not taking people or things for granted is apparent. I loved how the male took on a maternal role from the beginning, and the wife was concealed in frames before she let down her wall and warmed to the 'creature'. The colours increased in vibrancy as the Greenling grew. But what was the real purpose of the Greenlings visit? Why did he/she leave?
August 15, 2018
The story of this vegetable baby being plucked and taken home and plants growing everywhere around him was strange and unsettling at times. But the art was absolutely gorgeous. I love all the tiny details like the birds and animals, and I love the subtle green man imagery. As far as the story goes, I liked the characters embracing nature and the way even the baby's strongest dissenters applaud him by the end.
January 14, 2020
The book tells a story about the power nature has on humanity in the breaking down and building of relationships, and how reliant the world is on synthetic, man-made resources. Although confusing on the first read, you really begin to pick up on what Pinfold is trying to expose and how well he wants the reader to think about the message he wants to leave the reader with.
December 6, 2019
I was rather put off by the cover at first...once i got into the story, i simply could not help but fall in love with it....this book calls for repeated read as well as a great one to keep for people like me who loves Pinfold's illustration.
November 20, 2023
Cool. Weird. The text definitely detracts from the art. The story doesn't quite make sense. I'm thinking a bit more art to show transforming steps. But it's possible that the story itself is what's off. No matter, the art and idea was cool. Though not cool enough.
December 29, 2017
A little bit creepy, a little bit sweet.
July 14, 2017
Interesting pictures
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews