Meet Mr. and Mrs. Green

February 20th, 2012 · 2 Comments · Books

Review By JESSICA ALMY

I love Keith Baker’s Who Is the Beast? but had never read any of his other children’s books, so when I discovered he had written a series about two alligators, I eagerly sought out a book for my six-year-old daughter.

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Green features three short chapters/ stories, at least one of which is also sold separately as a Level 2 early reader, Camping (pictured at right). The stories are charming, featuring vignettes in the couple’s life that children can readily relate to. In Camping, for example, Mrs. Green plans a camping trip. Mr. Green has some fears about the trip, but goes along anyways. The couple walk and walk, ending up in the perfect camping spot: their backyard.

What I like most about this book is that each story clearly illustrates the love that the two alligators have for each other. Despite their differences, they’re kind and companionable, and they clearly have each other’s back. Given how married life is portrayed in contemporary culture, it’s nice to see two spouses who are clearly sweet on each other. How lovely too to learn that they’re based on Keith Baker’s own parents!

Vegetarian and vegan parents should be aware that Camping refers to a bridge the alligators cross as “the best fishing spot in town,” and 100 Pancakes depicts the alligators preparing and eating an obscene number (100, in fact) of pancakes made with eggs.

Ages 5 to 8.

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2 Comments so far ↓

  • Homa

    The couple interaction sounds intriguing – I know in commercials it frustrates me to see couples depicted as adversaries at cross purposes. Usually in kid lit couples are parents but not really the story’s heroes.

  • Jessica

    Agreed. I think mothers in particular get a bad rap in kidlit. Mrs. Green is so cool though — she’s the adventurous one! While there’s no baby alligator in this series (at least in this book), she definitely serves the role of a maternal figure, and in a good way.

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