Grandpa Green by Lane Smith - ADVISABLE

Smith, Lane.  Grandpa Green.  Roaring Book Press, 2011. $16.99. PICTURE BOOK.  A young, unnamed, boy takes the reader through his grandpa's beautiful, Edward Scissorhands-like garden and explains about his grandpa and how he became such a great gardner.  For example, Grandpa grew up on a farm, and then got the chicken pox in the fourth grade.  That is when he read "stories about secret gardens..." and then after high school he studied horticulture.  This is a departure from the zany, funny books that Lane Smith often creates, and I enjoyed the variation.  It is sweet and, as is always the case in his books, the illustrations are amazing and it offers the opportunities to discuss loving and caring for grandparents.  It is a good book to have in your collection.  Pre-K, EL(K-3), EL - ADVISABLE.  Brent Smith, Reading Teacher