The Whole Green World
Tony Johnston
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A rhyming story about planting some seeds. Come and dance the whole green world! I've got a little pair of shoes. (Comfy, cozy little shoes.) Got a little pair of shoes to walk the whole round world. After putting on her red shoes, a girl and her shaggy dog set out to plant the whole world. During the course of their imaginary journey they have many helpers - birds, insects, and sun among them - and then return home to wait for the magic of spring. A catchy and rhythmic poem and collages infused with a riot of detail and color make this the perfect book for those who cherish all the things that beautify the earth.

SLJ Reviews 2005 April (SH5D)

A spirited young girl, accompanied by her shaggy dog, describes how she plants some seeds, cares for them, and then enjoys the flowers and trees that make the "whole round world" beautiful.

Each verse details a particular action and ends with a refrain that evokes the title: "I've got a little water can./(Skinny, tinny water can.)/Got a little water can/to wet the whole round world." The narrator stays very busy tending to her plants, spreading happiness along the way, and enjoying a final dance through green environs. Johnston's repetitive language is playful and reads aloud smoothly.

Done in a variety of mediums, the full-page folk-art paintings are filled to the brim with people, animals, bugs, and blooms. Even the pages with text have illustrations in a circle around the words. Kids could spend hours just looking at everything in the pictures. The bright colors and rhythmic language also make this a good choice for units that celebrate nature.-Bethany L. W. Hankinson, Miller Elementary School, Newark, OH Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.