14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quite possibly the finest color book out there, May 26, 2005
Laura Vaccaro Seeger's "Lemons Are Not Red" is not only a work of art, but a joy for parents, educators, and young children alike. Each of the richly colored paintings are worthy of framing, as they are as beautiful as they are functional. The text invites readers to play, argue, and laugh as they explore what's NOT red, orange, gray, etc. and discuss what IS! The pages are thick and durable and will stand up to many years of enjoyment. Like Seeger's previous work, "The Hidden Alphabet", this is an ingenious creation with a complete understanding of the way a child's mind works and an incredibly successful attempt at expanding their imaginations and the way they view the world. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun read for toddlers and preschoolers, January 15, 2005
My toddlers and preschooler all enjoyed this book. They enjoyed to the point of asking it for multiple readings in one seating. The author uses to good effect both color and die cut images. The books reminds me somewhat of Lois Elhert's books and children who enjoy those picture books will likely appreciate this one as well.
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20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not even embarrassed lemons, May 25, 2005
I think I missed my calling in life. I should have been a consumer's advocate. This thought came to me when, after having checked out Laura Vaccaro Seeger's, "Lemons Are Not Red" from the library, I found myself pressing my oily fingers into the solid colored pages of her book. I was doing this so that I could mention in my review that this book, while interesting and lovely to the eye, was not ideal for toddlers since sticky hands would leave a continual residue. Trouble is, Seeger's smarter than I am. Her pages never show fingerprints. Not even the all-black two-page spreads. Whether it's the type of paper used or something to do with the treatment of the colors, I cannot say. All I can do is tip my hat to her and say that like all her other books, "Lemons Are Not Red" is infinitely appropriate and approachable for many a child of many a persuasion.
This is one of those rare picture books that set before you a series of statements, all in the negative. The first sentence is the same as that found in the title. As we look at two pages of bright yellow paper, small black words proclaim, "Lemons are not RED". The word "RED" appears under a cut-out made in the paper, through which we appear to see a red lemon. Turn the page though and the cut-out moves onto one of the yellow pages from the previous spread. The red background lets the lemon pop out at you to the accompanying words of, "Lemons are YELLOW. Apples are RED". And there, facing the lemon, is a shiny plump apple. This goes on. We learn various truths. Flamingoes are not gray. Grass is not blue. Reindeer are not white (albino reindeer notwithstanding). Finally, at the end, the moon is not black. The night is black. And inside a house stand two little figures, that turn into a tree as you turn the page.
Though lacking the narrative of that similarly ingenious cut-out picture book, "Go Away, Big Green Monster", this has a lot to recommend it. Now I began this review by commending Seeger for her fingerprint-proof paper. Unfortunately, that paper is not rip proof as well. In fact, as I was flipping idly through this puppy at home I found that the delicate cut-outs of things like reindeer and carrots are very prone to huge tears (not by my hands, I assure you). So my advice is to give this to a child that, even if grubby handed, knows how to treat a book respectfully.
All in all, this is a lovely little book of colors, shapes, and definitions. It's not my favorite cut-out book out there, and it doesn't hold up to subsequent readings all that well, but I loved the art and I like the narrative. Two thumbs up for a pretty darn good Seeger creation.
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