Verdi
When his mother sends him off on his journey to adulthood, telling him to grow up to be big and green, Verdi is disheartened. He likes things the way they are.
He loves his brilliant yellow skin with its bold zigzags along his back. Besides, all of the big and green snakes were lazy, boring and rude! Verdi liked to have fun! So, he made the decision never to grow up. He'd stay active and that way he'd always stay yellow. But during this quest, Verdi has an accident and is forced to take it easy. When he finally accepts his inevitable greenness, and in fact becomes quite comfortable with it, two new young snakes cross his path. This time around our young Verdi is the old, boring green guy. But Verdi shows the yellows that even if you just look big and green and boring on the outside you can always be young at heart, if you choose to.
This book is enjoyable for readers young and old. The first time I read it to my 3-year-old daughter she wasn't wowed, but since has asked me to read it to her numerous times. Its illustrations are gorgeous and I do enjoy reading it to her as much as she likes to hear it.
