Little Green Peas

July 14, 2014
Having previously played with letters and numbers in LMNO Peas and 123 Peas, Baker’s tiny legumes show their true colors (green, namely) in this entertaining companion book. Bouncy rhymes introduce nine colors: “Blue boats, blue seas,/ blue flags, and.../ little green peas.” Baker uses the page turns to create little crescendos of suspense, and the recurring answer changes just enough to keep things interesting. The color-themed spreads provide plenty of interest of their own, from a pair of autumnal “red” pages that show the peas flying kites and raking leaves to the cosmic black-and-white final spreads, which suggest that neither we (nor peas) are alone in this universe. Ages 4–8.

June 1, 2014
After tackling the alphabet and numbers in two previous excursions (LMNO Peas, 2013; 1-2-3 Peas, 2012), Baker's winsome legumes return for a third ap-pea-rance, exploring nine colors.Seven hues-blue, red, yellow, orange, green, purple and silver-garner two double-page spreads each. The first spread establishes the color-redolent context; the second locates those inimitable peas within the color's established landscape. "B-L-U-E" towers in large, digitally rendered letters afloat on pale, stylized waves near a few sailboats. Sea stars cling to the "U," while three peas display semaphore flags. A page turn reveals an ocean liner cruising past a sandy isle, where some 40 peas sunbathe, paint pictures, lift weights, hunt for treasure and more. One charming spread glows green: A stringed trellis supports "Green vines, / green leaves, / green sprouts, and... // baby green peas!" (Those babes in pods are adorable.) The "Silver" spreads contain large stacks of coins and a castle, complete with royal peas, distracted tower guards, a Rapunzel pea with long green locks, and even a gray, ghostly pea. The last color spread features both white and black-an appreciated twist in books about color concepts. While appealing, this doesn't quite measure up to Baker's earlier outings. The text is sparse and sometimes reads awkwardly. Too many of the spreads are under-pea-pulated, resulting in low exuberance levels.Sweet-but alas, not a three-pea-t. (Picture book. 3-7)

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Starred review from May 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 2-Picture-book sequels can be tricky to do well, but Baker continues to beat the odds with this follow-up to LMNO Peas (2010) and 1-2-3 Peas (2012, both S. & S.). Groups of irrepressibly individual legumes frolic through a rainbow of colors-red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, silver, black, and white. Each color is given two spreads. The first shows the name of the color in large textured letters the size of buildings and surrounded by busy peas. "BLUE. Blue boats, blue seas, blue flags and...[page turn] little green peas." On the second spread, the name of the color is gone, replaced by a more detailed landscape showing the peas' escapades. Baker employs a good balance of predictability and surprise in the text; on the spread for green, instead of the familiar "little green peas" at the page turn, readers are treated to an utterly charming garden scene in which peas in colorful rubber boots collect "baby green peas!" from the vine. Careful readers will be rewarded by tiny details recurring throughout the book; a paper airplane thrown from the title page appears on every spread, a ladybug is hidden on every page, and the artist pea (Baker's self-portrait as a pea?) is shown on the cover with a colorful easel and is seen again painting each color throughout the story. Simple in concept but elegant in design and execution, this title is a delight.-Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2014
Preschool-K *Starred Review* This delightful, energetic concept book showcases nine colors and is a worthy companion to Baker's recent titles: LMNO Peas (2010) and 1 2 3 Peas (2012). Each color is designated two full-page spreads. Brightly hued, digitally rendered illustrations present the name of each color in large block letters, with every letter a varying texture and shade of the featured tint. The exuberance continues on the following pages, as the peas take part in the sports and entertainment specific to a particular season, which serves as a backdrop. The introductory color has a summertime theme: BLUE: Blue boats, blue seas, blue flags and little green peas, and the sweet peas are oh so busy. The pages offer plenty of white space and are fun to scrutinize, as there are peas piloting boats, riding on an ocean liner, sunbathing, scuba diving, looking for treasure, and building a sandcastle, among numerous other warm-weather activities. Simple rhymes scan well, and listeners will soon be enthusiastically joining in the refrain. This title also serves as seek-and-find entertainment since there is a ladybug and a paper airplane to be found on every page. Learning about colors has seldom been this much fun. Outstanding!(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)