Verdi by Janell Cannon Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Verdi
Book Review: Soon to be a favorite!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book will become a favorite for many children, as it was for my child. Its vivid illustrations are tremendously life-like. Children will feel a kinship with the young snake's tribulations about growing up. It has a strong emphasis on Personality Development. It is like a "coming of age" story where a child does not want to grow up but finds it happens anyway. As much as Verdi the young snake tried to seek independence from adults, he learned that he still needed the warmth and security from the adults in his life.
Social Development skills could also be learned from Verdi as he began to understand the adult pythons' points of views. When Verdi gave them a chance, he realized the adults were quite amazing.
Book Review: Splendid Artwork, So-So Story
Summary: 3 Stars
In the heat of the tropics, several small eggs hatch and tiny 8-inch snakes slither out, swiftly making their way out to the forest to explore and learn. One of them dilly-dallies, mesmerized by his colorful body and confused by his mother's encouraging words to "grow up big and green - as green as the trees' leaves." The Peter Pan of reptiles, "Verdi" is the charming story of a little snake who refuses to grow up.
Once a featured title on the popular children's program "Reading Rainbow", "Verdi" begins by introducing the reader to a just-hatched green tree python who after seeing how crotchety and lazy his elders are decides not to become like them, which means fighting off his inevitable maturation. Born with an eye-catching pattern of black markings littering his canary yellow scales, Verdi is a spry snake that flings himself about the trees, a little too adventurous for his own good. While fretting over the color change in his scales and slithering about, Verdi gets himself into a heap of trouble and is rescued by the adults. As he recovers from an incapacitating injury, he learns some interesting things about his peers and discovers that getting older isn't such a bad thing after all, so long as you remain young at heart.
Cannon's story slyly schools us on morelia viridis while dazzling us with her beautiful illustrations done in acrylic paint and Prismacolor pencils (and I can vouch for that brand, as I own a large set of them - they are EXCELLENT). Her excellence at rendering the anatomy of her star reptile comes from thorough, hands-on research with the help of Clay Garrett, a herpetologist at the Dallas Zoo and Robert Brock of the San Diego Zoo. At the back of the book are some source notes on snakes which include specific facts about the green tree python; these details will be of particular interest to children and adults who are animal and/or biology enthusiasts.
Bottom line: Fans of "Stellaluna" will love this work more so for Cannon's stunning vignettes, the story taking a bit of a backseat. Nonetheless, it is a frivolous and fun tale while being educational at the same time and Cannon's gorgeous depictions of wildlife will transport you to another world.
Book Review: The Reading Foutain Of Youth
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading the book Verdi, I actually felt how great it is when your young, but eventually you encounter things you dont plan and want to grow up.But...Verdi was different. Yes, he got hurt and knew he was going to turn green but that didn't stop him from being young.
I think this would teach kids to enjoy what they have while it last because it wont always be there. Exspecially age. Your only young once and when it's gone there is only memories.
In the book, when Verdi is green and old, a couple of young yellow snakes try to say things to make him feel old. But that doesn't work and he ends up doing the things he loves because he never wants to be considered old.
Book Review: This book rocks!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very good book with excellent illustrations and is not patronizing to children. It has a good "moral", and Verdi is a great snake.Book Review: VERDI
Summary: 5 Stars
Beautifully written and illustrated book for children of all ages with a wonderful message.