Today Caramel reviews a book he borrowed from his school when his school closed down for the next few weeks due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: Verdi by Janell Cannon. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.
Sprinkles: So Caramel, why did you pick this book to talk about today?
Caramel: Because I like this book. I like the illustrations, and the story.
S: I think the author both wrote the story and illustrated it herself.
C: Yes, she did. I like it. It is very green.
S: Yes, it is very calming. In fact we can read it out loud together, or watch someone else read it out loud, and it makes us feel calm and cozy, right?
C: Yep. Here is a video of someone reading Verdi that we found and watched:
S: So can you tell us what this story is about Caramel?
C: A green python that does not want to be green. He is young so he is not green yet. And he does not want to become green, like the other ones. The other greens, he calls them.
S: That sounds interesting. What color is he then?
C: He is yellow. They are actually called green tree pythons. They are green when they are grown up, and they live on trees, so that is why they are called green tree pythons.
S: That is interesting! That Wikipedia article also says they get as long as six feet!
C: Yes. After the story ends, the book has a section on snakes. And you can learn lots of facts there.
S: And I know you like your facts Caramel! So tell me a few of your favorite snake facts from that section in the book.
C: Ok. There are about 2500 species of snakes!
S: That is a lot of snake types. What else?
C: And the biggest snake in the world is 33 feet!
S: That is long! Anyways it is interesting that these green tree pythons are born yellow and then they change into green as they mature. So this Verdi does not want to change. Why do you think that is?
C: Maybe he wants to stay young forever?
S: That sounds likely. He does not think too highly of the other already green ones, right?
C: He thinks they are lazy and boring.
S: And then what happens?
C: And then he turns green anyway.
S: And does he become lazy and boring?
C: No. He is big and green but he makes friends with two yellow snakes and together they jump and make figure eights with each other. It is such a nice book!
S: It is sweet, true. What do you think it all means?
C: I think it means that even if you do not want something to happen to you but if it is a part of your nature, then you will have to go through it anyways.
S: So you might not want to grow up but you will have to some day.
C: But it is ok to grow up. He is big and green but still can have fun and friends.
S: Yes, so maybe it is not that bad to grow up after all.
C: But I don’t want to grow up much either. I actually really don’t.
S: Why so?
C: It’s fun being a young bunny.
S: That is true. But there are also a lot of things you can’t do when you are such a young bunny.
C: But do you even remember when you were a young bunny?
S: Of course Caramel. I remember a lot of things. I was frustrated a lot because I couldn’t do everything I wanted to do.
C: Do you remember your school?
S: Yes, I do. I remember many of my friends and my teachers. But let us get back to Verdi. Do you know what Verdi means?
C: Yes, it means green. In Italian I think.
S: Yes, so that is kind of amusing, isn’t it? His name is green, so we could have guessed that he would eventually become green anyways.
C: Yep. But still it’s a nice story. I like reading it.
S: That is great Caramel. So let us wrap this up.
C: Yes! Stay tuned for more book bunnies adventures!
BookBunnies 