Where is the Green Sheep?

by Mem Fox, Judy Horacek (Illustrator)

There are red sheep and blue sheep, wind sheep and wave sheep, scared sheep and brave sheep, but where is the green sheep? The search is on in this cozy, sheep-filled story from beloved author Mem Fox and popular Australian cartoonist Judy Horacek. Complete with sleepy rhymes and bright illustrations, this book is sure to delight children of all ages, from the very young to those just beginning to read. Wonderful characters and wonderfully illustrated. 2005 Children's Book of the Year for Early Childhood. . Review Everybody loves sheep, and this flock cunningly portrays concepts in a fun and clever manner. We are first introduced to the blue sheep and the red sheep. Sheep in various activities are presented but one sheep is missing--the green sheep. Tanning sheep, diving sheep--even Gene Kelly in sheep's clothing makes an appearance dancing and singing in the rain. (Twenty-first century children will most likely not understand that allusion, but it is a great page!) Horacek's playful pen and watercolor images convey Fox's text with practical simplicity and friendly colors with just the right amount of white space on each spread. A few opposites are included along with an assortment of colorful and colorless sheep engaged in different activities. Can you find the reflective sheep? But what about that elusive green sheep? By the end of the book you will find out. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young, Children's Literature - Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Animals, Fiction, Poetry, Spanish Literature

32 pages, Board book

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Merrion Frances Fox is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox has been semi-retired since 1996, but she still gives seminars and lives in Adelaide, South Australia.

Reviews

[Suz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just the right amount of rhyme and story for my youngest family member. Not too hard for him to grasp (he doesn't sit still for long, ever!) and the illustrations are eye catching as well, this is so important at his age if I'm to have any smidgen of success in engaging him with reading. I read this before bed last night, and there were a couple of funny comments from Indy that I'm disappointed I did not take note of. I'll read it again tomorrow to see if I can recreate the funny. The sheep are so so cute in this story as we roll along looking for that cheeky green sheep. Mum's favourite was the 'cup of tea' sheep. Indy's was the 'sliding' sheep. I wish someone would read to me..

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you're an adult, a read-through of this book might seem boring and pointless. You're looking for a green sheep - you've never seen the green sheep before. He's not even on the cover. Why should you care? All these other sheep in here doing lots of things that sheep you've seen before never do. Distractions. Where is the bloody green sheep? Why is this book so popular?

Just add a toddler. Get them to 'read it' to you. This - THIS - is where this book becomes an instant all time favourite.
'Where is the greeeeeeen sheep??'

[Enyu Hu]

this is for a youtube video i swear

[Rossy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Near sheep is so cute!
But I wonder, why are we looking for the green sheep? Is something happening? This is a mystery book!

[April Thompson Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of all the sheep, I'm definitely the bed sheep.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

1/1/2004I dearly love Fox's work, but this one came too late to grab us; we were already past sleepy-time books before we ever saw it. 888 I like sheep in real life*, as well as in this book. These are some unspeakably cute sheep.

Library copy.

*I once had a pet lamb, named Kersey. She had croup, and her mother wouldn't look after her, so I took her home and fed her from a bottle, and made her a croup tent, and then, when she recovered, she spent her days in the back yard playing with the dog. When I went off to college my mother gave her to a farmer who kept the sheep for wool only, not for roast mutton. Do not think of arguing that last point. All of my former pets went to live on hobby farms where the lead long, idyllic lives.

[Emily Giannone · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intense thriller that is sure to please all ages. From the very beginning, the reader becomes the detective, trying to indeed find the whereabouts of the elusive green sheep. Many a red herring (or shall we say, sheep), are placed in the reader’s way, at an attempt at misdirecting and confounding even the most Sherlock of us all. One finds themselves caring for many of the other sheep along the way - particularly both near and far sheep, who it seems are never destined to meet. A compelling search for all ages...answering perhaps more than just the physical location of the green sheep.

[Isaac Cornish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of sheep, and a great read.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

should be rated 1 star bc the kid who owns the copy i read made me cry this morning

[Maxwell Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where is that pesky green sheep? I liked the pictures in this book, they were nice and bright though some of the rhymes were a tongue twister for mummy.

[Tamara Robson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predictable plot twist at the end, but otherwise a good book.
Though I reckon the brave sheep could also be a scared sheep - Brene Brown would say so, I think.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where is the Green Sheep has been a firm family favourite this week. A classic for a reason, this is a story of sheep, colours, and opposites. There’s lots of quality vocabulary learning to be had, as well as fun wondering where that green sheep might be hiding. A great one to read over and over again, and it’s celebrating its 20th anniversary this year! 🐑

[Erin Ledo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book 50 million times today. Obviously demanded by my 1 year old daughter and not on my own accord. However, this story is cute and Freya lights up everytime I submit and read it to her. After dealing with a sad teething baby all day who has made me read this book 50 million times, I thought it would be appropriate to add this to my goodreads hahaha

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this for my 1 yr old who has shown far less interest in books than his big brother did. We were off on holiday and I felt he needed something for the flight. Turns out we've just been giving him the wrong books.

He loves it, points and grunts at it, says 'book' at bed time, naps and whenever else he sees it. He likes pointing at the sheep and especially loves the 'near sheep' page. We read Goodnight Moon every night for 8 bloody months to my oldest but I'm finding this far more enjoyable.

The rhyming is nicely handled, the pictures are vivid and it's the perfect length. Good choice me.

[Ronan Crutchfield]

Mom had to fight me a little to read this book. She wanted to read it, but I just wanted to look at the cover!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Australian children's classic.

[Ally McCulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a good book that rhymes and helps kids learn their colors and shapes. Fun and recommended!!

[gtm · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I might be cheating towards my yearly reading goal here lol but this is one of my most favourite books to read with the kids. Not my kids, but my kids. Very interesting concept. Definitely a great way to expand children’s language and confidence (by taking the lead and read it out loud themselves to others). Love it!

[Afaf Ammar · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Here is the blue sheep
and here is the red sheep
But where is the green sheep?
Here is the swing sheep
and here is the slide sheep
But where is the green sheep?
Here is the band sheep
and here is the clown sheep
But where is the green sheep?
Here is the sun sheep
and here is the rain sheep
Here is the wind sheep
and here is the wave sheep
But where is the green sheep?
Here is the moon sheep
and here is the star sheep
But where is the green sheep?"

A very cute poetic picture book with bright ,joyful and cheerful illustrations,
Where is the green sheep? When we quietly turn the page and take a peek, we'll know where is the green sheep,
totally loved it ~💕💕

كتاب مصور شعري لطيف للغاية برسومات مشرقة ومبهجة ،
أين الخروف الأخضر؟
عندما نقلب الصفحة بهدوء، سنعرف أين الخروف الأخضر،
أحببته ~💕💕

21.07.2021

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where Is the Green Sheep? is picture book by Australian author Mem Fox. The last book of hers I read was Possum Magic when I was a new Mom and a new member of BookCrossing. It was part of a bookring. In the years between I'd pretty much forgotten about her books until a number of random sources recommended Where is the Green Sheep? to me and my children.

On numerous recommendations I checked out a copy of Where is the Green Sheep? from our library. Sean read it to himself and I read it to Harriet. Sean found the book a quick read (as he should since it's aimed at preschoolers and he's in 2nd grade). Harriet liked the first few pages but quickly went into "play along mode" while I read on.

The book reminds me most of Sandra Boynton's books but it's about twice as long. I think it was just much repetition of "where's the green sheep" before the final pay-off.

When we were done with the book I asked Sean and Harriet for their opinions. Both complained that it didn't make sense for there to be sheep of so many different colors. So while the book is popular with many parents and children and has even inspired a children's play, it didn't win over my two.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Library bought the big book version to use for story times. It was on the new materials truck that I processed yesterday. Of all the books on the truck, this one caught my attention. Indeed, so much so that I ended up reading it out loud to my work colleagues at the Circulation Desk! We truly got into the spirit of the book which encourages interaction. The Desk resounded with, "Where is the green sheep?" until he was discovered at the end of the tale! The illustrations are just lovely. I need to own a copy!

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more Mem Fox I read, the more I appreciate her talent. This book is no exception. She really knows how to write for children. Every time the text asked, "But where is the green sheep?" my son answered. I always forget how much he likes to be involved in things, but Mem Fox doesn't forget.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Target audience will like it more than I did, I'm sure. But if you get a chance, you gotta check out the tribute to *Singing in the Rain.*

[Jacob P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3/5

Where is the Green sheep? is a short and simple sensory book that keeps little ones engaged through both visuals and touch. The different textures scattered throughout add a nice interactive element, making it fun for babies and toddlers to explore while listening to the story.

It’s noticeably shorter than most children’s books I’ve read with my son - in both page count and word count - but that brevity works well for very young readers or as a quick bedtime pick. The central question of the title is held until the very last page, and along the way we’re introduced to a variety of other sheep in different colors and scenarios, which helps keep the journey light and playful.

Overall, it’s a sweet, functional book that does exactly what it promises, even if it isn’t the most memorable or substantial kids’ read out there. Liked it; enjoyable and effective, but quite short and straightforward.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When looking through the ABC top 100 list it almost gave me tears that this is the only kids book that made the list. My kids both loved this so much that we had to buy a second copy because the first one fell apart beyond repair. We ended up with so many Mem Fox books in the end.

Any that we didn’t choose ourselves were given to us or read to them in kindy (Koala Lou, Particular Cow) and we were basically ordered to have a home copy of each by one of the kids 😂. This one isn’t my favourite Fox - (that would be Henwick’s Egg 🥹), but it’s a 5 star book because it sparks the love of books for so many kids and I think I can recite it without the book in front of me.
Every Mem Fox book will be kept for my kid’s kids. Very special author.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the pen and watercolor illustrations of the sheep, who have such whimsical, joyous expressions. The story conveys lots of concepts for young readers - colors, opposites (the "up" sheep and the "down" sheep being blasted from a circus cannon), and rhymes (also at the circus, the "band" sheep, playing 4 instruments at once, and the juggling "clown" sheep). But where is that elusive green sheep? Children (and adults) will race to the end to find out. A School Library Journal Top 100 picture book.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mem Fox is a genius & a true legend of Australian children's literature (as recently recognised by Australia Post!). I never quite understood the level of success this book has received, it just seems like a decent picture book to me, but the reading public clearly thinks differently. When I talk about Mem Fox with my students, this is the book they fondly recall & name as one of their favourites. Oh well, I don't always have to "get it", just glad kids love it!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simply delightful. It is a pleasure to read aloud thanks to the simple language and easy use of rhymes with the repeated refrain of 'But where is the green sheep?'. The illustrations are a joy, well-suited to the text and bringing a great deal of humour. My two-year-old loves it, and I predict I'll be reading this many times, but I don't think I'll get sick of it any time soon.

[Anna Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel the character development is there for everyone except the green sheep. Why is he sleeping under the bush? And why isn't he brave or a star or near? Why just green?

Great story arc though. And yes I'm cheating in my reading challenge but YOU try committing to and completing 25 novels with a new born.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no no choice but to give this book 5 stars, since my toddler read it over and over and over and over. No idea why he likes it so much, but looking for the green sheep makes him happy. There are no flaps or textures. Just sheep. Lots of sheep. Good thing I like the book too.