The+Watermelon+Seed


 * The Watermelon Seed**

Book Review By: Courtney Jinks




 * Author** : Greg Pizzoli

 **Age Range:** 3 - 5 years  **Grade Level:** Preschool - Kindergarten  **Hardcover:** 40 pages  **Publisher:** Disney-Hyperion; First Edition edition (May 14, 2013)  **Language:** English  **ISBN-10:** 1423171012  **ISBN-13:** 978-1423171010
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 * __Summary:__**

Greg Pizzoli introduces us to one funny crocodile who has one big fear: swallowing a watermelon seed. The book is about the wild imagination that this one silly crocodile has. He is wondering about all the bad things that can happen to him after he swallows this watermelon seed. He is panicking. The poor crocodile is so worried until he burps up the seed. He vows to never eat watermelon again.


 * __Review of Book:__**

This book has simple text and the story line is easy to read, which makes a great book for students just learning to read or fun to listen to. I liked this book so much because there is a very playful story line. The Watermelon Seed was a very cute and simple book. It is one of those books that a child can read over and over again and still laugh. This book will allow children to make personal connections, because the author made me connect to it as well. It makes a kid (or adult) think of that confusing question, what happens when you swallow a watermelon seed. I remember thinking about it when I was a kid. I remember thinking that a watermelon plant was going to grow inside my stomach. The author gives a sense of drama going on in the story. Once the seed is swallowed there are a lot of what if’s going through the crocodiles head. The crocodile says that he will never eat a watermelon again. Watermelon is this reptile’s favorite food. Children will be able to predict if he will have the will power to stay away from watermelon forever. I would definitely want my children or students to read this book. It is a great summer book to read while eating watermelon yourself!

Greg Pizzoli is an author, illustrator from Philadelphia. His first picture book, The Watermelon Seed, received the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. If he is not working on creating children’s books, then he is teaching at the University of Arts. You can also find him working in his studio. The Watermelon Seed is Pizzoli’s first of many great children’s books.
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 * __Literary Element Analysis:__**

The Watermelon Seed is a great example of how fun stories with few words and simple illustrations can be. The literary element I felt was most in important was the illustrations. Picture books introduce children to the concept of reading, even if they cant even read yet. Since there are barely any words, the images create a sense of the story. By having minimal words allows the reader to be creative and make up their own stories. The illustrator which happens to be the author, uses vibrant pinks, black and green palette to help tell the story simply and to emphasis on the crocodiles expressions. The oversize font on the pages helps to reinforce the emotion in the story. The images artfully contribute to the humor. Critics have used the words “enchanting” and beautiful to describe the illustrations. Picture books are important because of how readers interact with them, especially the read-aloud experience


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