Green Wilma [Hardcover]

Tedd Arnold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1993 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

The author/illustrator of Ollie Forgot and No More Jumping on the Bed! offers another irresistibly funny fable, filled with his wild, offbeat humor. Wilma's parents don't know what to do with their fly-eating child, as she wreaks havoc at school when a particularly tasty-looking morsel buzzes just out of reach. Colored pencil and watercolor wash illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

There's something decidedly odd about Wilma: at breakfast, her parents are startled by their offspring's request to "Pass the bugs"; later, she shocks her teacher by snagging a "tasty little fly" with her long pink tongue. Most noticeably, however, Wilma's skin has turned a deep, froggy green, a fact that her polka-dot T-shirt and beribboned blond hair cannot conceal. In this strange and gleeful story, it's surprisingly easy being green--the extraordinary heroine is the envy of her elementary-school class. Arnold's rhyming text is as buoyant as his leaf-colored, rubbery-limbed protagonist; his roly-poly, bug-eyed characters perfectly suit the story's quirky theme and manic action. Squiggly, threadlike lines--suggestive of handmade paper--cover every surface in the richly colored illustrations, subtly adding an unusual softness and depth. Though some youngsters may be puzzled by the book's conclusion, this gifted picture book creator ( No Jumping on the Bed! ; The Signpainter's Assistant ) has taken his talents in a quirky, unconventional direction with this tale, which takes daydreaming to new and zany heights. Ages 4-8. A Children's BOMC selection.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- When little Wilma awakens one morning, she discovers that she has turned green and developed a fondness for eating flies. Her horrified parents don't know how to deal with her, so she hops to school. There she demonstrates her dodgeball skills, but gets in trouble after flicking her tongue on the teacher's nose and chasing flies through the lunchroom. Of course the adventure turns out to be a dream--but the dreamer, as it turns out, is a frog, not a girl. Arnold's breezy humor shines through in the illustrations, especially in his goggle-eyed people who must be the stuff of amphibian nightmares. The rhymed narration is adequate, but the amusing tale's success derives from the unexpected twist and the slapstick comedy embodied in the pictures. --Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (March 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803713134
• ISBN-13: 978-0803713130
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,220,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Elmira, New York, Tedd grew up in a family of six with three brothers. His family lived on a farm in Pennsylvania for several years then returned to Elmira until Tedd was ten years old. His father's work then required that they move to Gainesville, Florida. There, Tedd's first art lessons in an abandoned dentist's office over the Happy Hour pool hall eventually led to a fine arts degree from the University of Florida. He and his wife, Carol, started their family in Tallahassee where Tedd worked as a commercial illustrator. Carol, a Kindergarten teacher, drew Tedd's attention to children's books. Their first son, Walter, inspired his breakthrough picture book, No Jumping on the Bed!. His second son, William, now stars in No More Water in the Tub!, a sequel to his first book. He has now published more than 30 books as author and illustrator. When not working on his books, Tedd's interests include tennis, sketching, reading, coin collecting, and the computer."The inspiration to begin writing and illustrating for children came from my wife, Carol. As a kindergarten teacher, she collected picture books. I was attracted to their colorful pages and the way the words and pictures played with each other, much like the captioned cartoons I had drawn when I was young."Perhaps the biggest surprise of my career as an author is that I'm now going back to elementary school! Visiting young readers in classrooms and libraries is something I love. Kids keep me on my toes and they ask a lot of questions. The number one question seems to be, 'Where do you get your ideas?' It's also the hardest question to answer because every idea is different. Some ideas seem to pop out of thin air -- while I'm in the shower or walking the dog. Others come from reading or research. But most of my ideas come from my family and the things they do and say."For instance, one time when my first son, Walter, was five years old, I found him lying on the couch, looking pale as a ghost and clutching a Bible to his chest. He was praying! When I asked what was wrong, he wouldn't answer. In fact, he wouldn't even open his mouth. My wife, Carol, finally coaxed a response from him: he pointed inside his mouth. Carol exclaimed, 'You have a loose tooth!' Walter's eyes nearly popped out with fright. We quickly assured him that it was perfectly okay for his tooth to come loose and that a new one would replace it. But Carol and I looked at each other and realized that despite all our efforts to be good parents, we had somehow completely forgotten to warn Walter that teeth fall out! He had thought he was falling apart! I made a little note in my journal; then ten years later, I expanded that memory into my book Parts."Tedd Arnold lives in Elmira, New York, with his wife, Carol, two sons, Walter and William, two cats, Cody and Frankie, and one dog, Hershey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just plain GOOFY!!, April 22, 2001

By 

"kubakat" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Green Wilma (Mass Market Paperback)

The first time I read this book I laughed out loud!! My daughter thinks it is as funny as I do-the illustrations are terrific. Buy this book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An all time favorite!, July 23, 2004

By 

K. Beardslee (Lenexa, KS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Green Wilma (Mass Market Paperback)

My daughter and I love this book! We've had it for several years now and it continues to one of our favorites. (Actually she is now reading it to me!) I'm sure we will be reading it for many more years to come!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Green Wilma is hilarious, November 24, 2001

By 

Ashley (Bayt City, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Green Wilma (School & Library Binding)

Children will love this book. It is well illustrated, keeps your attention, makes you laugh, and keeps you wanting to see what Wilma will do next. I found the book extremely enjoyable and would be a good investment in your childs reading library.