Published: 2024
Series: N/A
Genres: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Adventure
Grade Levels: Pre-k, K, 1, 2, 3
Content Warnings: none
Goodreads Link: The Little Green Jacket
Publisher’s Summary:
“Three stories in one book! One story can be just the voices of the children, in white. Another story can be the Little Green Jacket speaking, in green. And another story can be both combined. A best seller in Children’s Books about Birthdays, Children’s Fiction on Social Situations, and Children’s Values Books. Seek and find all the recycling symbols hidden on the pages!
Based on true events, a little green jacket travels through the lives of different children, who live in very different places, and ends on the other side of the world after a natural disaster. Historical fiction. “Destined to be an American classic”, a truly unique and inspirational story with a dual perspective in the voice of a little green jacket. With enchanting illustrations this book demonstrates how giving has a magic of its own. A story that showcases the culture of donations, and how it can change lives, one item at a time.
With black and white illustrations with the color green, to honor recycling and Earth Day. Children learn the power of and want to donate. Thrifting and second hand stores are important, sharing, kindness, and caring. Jodi Dee’s picture book story, The Little Green Jacket, is quite simply amazing. In adult literature, this simple children’s tale would compare to the The Red Violin as an object, in this case, a green jacket, makes its way from one owner to the next, sharing its warmth, love and the magic of caring. The illustrations are superb and cleverly executed.
Review:
“The Little Green Jacket is a charming tale that follows a jacket from the moment it is made in the factory to the first child that wears it and beyond; as it is donated, resold, and reused.
Throughout the story there are five children that get to have the opportunity of owning this jacket, each child with their own story and completely different socio-economic status, diversity and multiculturalism. It becomes evident that the children love this jacket and the jacket loves them just as much.
Because of the difference between the children through the jacket’s journey, the book creates many elements and topics for discussions, such as: social-economic status, sharing, reuse and recycle, donation, and helping other in need. The author give the jacket a power voice when the jacket says “Love is universal. We need each other, even those we’ve never met. Giving is the thread that weaves us together.” What a powerful concept to explore with children?
A unique aspect of this book is that can be read as three different stories. The view point from each child, the Little Green Jacket’s or in unison. It would be suggested that when reading this with younger children to recite the book from the separate viewpoints, rather than in unison.
The illustrations in this book really stand out. The illustrator creates a focus on the jacket by creating intriguing pictures in black and white with the only pop of color being the Little Green Jacket. Additionally, the author creates a little adventure for the readers by hiding a recycle symbol on all the pages for seek and find.
If you’re looking to use this story as a teaching tool, the author has created an entire free unit of corresponding lessons, activities, puppets, and coloring pages in her website www.jodidee.com.”
