Review - When Green Becomes Tomatoes

When Green Becomes Tomatoes
by Julie Fogliano
illustrated by Julie Morstad
Date: 2016
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated poetry collection
Pages: 56
Format: e-book
Source: Amazon.ca

december 29

and i woke to a morning
that was quiet and white
the first snow
(just like magic) came on tip toes
overnight

Flowers blooming in sheets of snow make way for happy frogs dancing in the rain. Summer swims move over for autumn sweaters until the snow comes back again. In Julie Fogliano's skilled hand and illustrated by Julie Morstad's charming pictures, the seasons come to life in this gorgeous and comprehensive book of poetry.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I picked up this little poetry book at a discount. It was in the children's section, but I really don't think it's a book for kids. It's more of a book for adults who want to reminisce about being kids.

Most of the poems don't rhyme, and rhyming is an expectation a lot of kids will have. (It's an expectation a lot of adults will have, too, when they pick up a poetry book aimed at children.) Some of the poems are quite lovely, don't get me wrong, but others come across as pretentious word-salad.

The illustrations are pretty. Kids will probably enjoy looking at those, at the very least. But I can't really see most of these poems holding their interest. The book's value will be mostly for the parents, as it gives voice to a child's experience of the seasons. The fact that that voice is an adult one means that When Green Becomes Tomatoes probably isn't going to be a favourite of younger readers.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3.17 out of 5 ladybugs