Welcome to the Green House [Hardcover]

Jane Yolen (Author), Laura Regan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 1993 | Age Level: 4 and up

Invites the reader to explore the beauty and wonder of the rain forest, describing it as a house with trees for walls and leaves for a roof. By the author of Owl Moon.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the current freshet of rainforest books, Yolen's rises to the surface not as a mere tour guide, but a gracious host to earth's "dark green, / light green, / emerald green / bright green / copper green, / blue green, / ever-new green house." The author's atmosphere-laden free verse, which falls into unexpected, pleasing rhyme and repetition, correlates with Regan's sumptuous gouache artwork. While the text focuses on the relentless noise of forest inhabitants, borderless, painterly illustrations seem to spill off the pages in their intricate depictions of animals cavorting amidst tropical flora. The illustrations are just literal enough--allowing youngsters to match familiar and unknown species with names in the text. Yolen's language begs for reading aloud but for a common problem: her generous use of onomatopoetic translation of animal calls and other sounds may be difficult for readers to imitate without jarring the beauty and rhythm of the language. A stimulating challenge, however, in a strikingly vibrant package. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-- Yolen explores a tropical rain forest in an entrancing poem full of internal rhyme, alliteration, and evocative images. "But it is not all green/ in the hot green house:/ a flash of blue hummingbird,/ a splash of golden toad,/ a lunge of waking lizards,/ a plunge of silver fish . . . ." These are only a few of the many creatures that the author catalogs and Regan depicts in her lush gouache paintings. The illustrations include all of the animals mentioned in the brief text, but readers are left to their own devices to identify the extra treats the artist includes. Ideal for introducing rain forest ecology in the primary grades, this book may be also be used by preschool teachers. Its many animal sounds and closeup views of snakes, sloths, and primates will perfectly suit their inquisitive students. A page of remarks about the continuing destruction of tropical rain forests and an address where youngsters may write to obtain information about preserving them is appended. The next best thing to a guided tour. --Ellen Fader, Westport Public Library, CT grades 3-6
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile; 1 edition (April 21, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399223355
• ISBN-13: 978-0399223358
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,436,639 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Rain Forest, April 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Welcome to the Green House (Mass Market Paperback)

I felt that this was a wonderful book. I read this book to a third grade classroom and they all loved the story. They especially loved the illustrations. I loved the way all the animals seemed to blend in with with the plants. I would recommend this book to everyone. This book is a must see for all children and adults.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars still a favorite story!, August 24, 2009

By 

Ashley Sites (Livingston, MT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Welcome to the Green House (Mass Market Paperback)

My little boy has had this book for a couple of years and it is still a favorite. He loves looking a the pictures and learning about the rainforest animals. I love how colorful the pictures are and how well the story flows when you read it.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Program Assistant, December 16, 2008

By 

kitty (Scotia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Welcome to the Green House (Hardcover)

The museum feels we're able to have a several choses when purchasing an item. That's definitely a plus for the museum in order to cut costs wherever we are able.
Due to this I will continue to shop at Amazon in the future.
Kitty