Meet Mr. and Mrs. Green

September 23, 2002
Mr. Green thinks "life with Mrs. Green full of adventure," and Mrs. Green thinks "life with Mr. Green full of surprises." This three-chapter picture book about the fun-loving alligator couple brims with both. Baker's (Quack and Count) lively acrylics cascade in an array of festive colors: lime green, citrus yellow, mango and lavender among them. Whether depicting Mrs. Green encouraging Mr. Green to meet his goal by eating his 100th pancake or the two alligators riding their scooters to the fair, Baker's cartoon-like paintings bubble over with humor. After reading a book called Crazy for Camping, Mrs. Green alleviates Mr. Green's fears about the spooky woods by taking him on a circuitous route to the camp site... their very own backyard. When the flowers blow out of Mr. Green's vase, putting his blue ribbon prize in jeopardy, the judge surprisingly awards a blue ribbon for Mrs. Green's flower-filled straw hat, sweetly arranged by Mr. Green. Baker effectively alters the pacing with full-page paintings and full-bleed spreads that alternate with time-lapse spot illustrations (as when Mr. Green slowly swallows pancake 100). The amusing descriptions of Mrs. Green's artistic process ("A smear of purple... a wiggle of white... a smudge of pink... and green!") or Mr. Green's discourse on 100 as he downs his hotcakes ("10 times 10,/ 50 plus 50,/ 349 minus 237, divided by 2 plus 44") will surely tickle young readers. Ages 3-7.