Picture Book Review: The Little Green Girl

So, I’m coming to realize that the books that I really appreciate are not necessarily the same ones that Madeline does. I’m not sure what her deal is with this book, but she hasn’t been able to get through it more than a couple times. She has fallen asleep every other time I’ve tried reading it to her! Perhaps there’s something calming about it. It does really start off rather quietly in comparison to the books she tends to go for. As a parent, I love this story because it’s a bit like when the Little Green Girl breezes into his life as a seedling, the Gardener becomes a parent. So, for me, this story is like watching him grow as a person because he has this little girl around who challenges him to step out of his comfort zone. I love that. Madeline loves the adventure part, when he finally is convinced to leave his garden and travel with the Little Green Girl. I suppose we are each drawn to the journey that resonates most with us in this book.

This story is really adorable. There’s a lot going on within the images that adds another layer to it, which is lovely. It’s not just about getting out of your comfort zone, but also about how relationships can help to nurture us in mutually beneficial ways. In the case of the Gardener, he grows as a caretaker and getting out of his comfort zone. Meanwhile the Little Green Girl learns to appreciate her home and gets to experience the world with the gardener’s help.