Green Eyes

Green Eyes

Author and Illustrator: A. Birnbaum

Age Group: Kindergarten

Published: 1953

Green Eyes is the story of a young kitten’s experiences through his first year of life. Green Eyes was born on a farm and the year is documented through the animal friends he meets during the four seasons of the year. When Green Eye’s is born he is so small that he lives in a small box. After a year of life, he is moved to a bigger box.

I don’t know that I can say that there is any real lesson that is taught through this story. The author has created a lot of opportunity for teaching and learning using, animals, seasons, number, colors the transformation from a kitten to a cat.

The illustrations are very simple and child like. There isn’t a lot of detail, which makes it easier for a young child to understand and absorb. The colors the Birnbaum chose are primary colors that again cater to the young child. The animals, seasons and colors provide the opportunity for a lot of dialogue and questions with the young child.

I recommend this Caldecott Honor Book for the early childhood classroom. Whether in large or small groups there are a lot of teaching and learning opportunities. The teacher can use this book for a weather unit, farm unit, number unit, color unit or teaching about seasons. Through this book the teacher can ask the children a lot of questions about the various topics and can use it as an assessment tool to see  what the children know or are interested in.