The Watermelon Seed

by Greg Pizzoli (Author) Greg Pizzoli (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

With perfect comic pacing, Greg Pizzoli introduces us to one funny crocodile who has one big fear: swallowing a watermelon seed. What will he do when his greatest fear is realized? Will vines sprout out his ears? Will his skin turn pink? This crocodile has a wild imagination that kids will love.

With bold color and beautiful sense of design, Greg Pizzoli's picture book debut takes this familiar childhood worry and gives us a true gem in the vein of I Want My Hat Back and Not a Box.

 

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Kirkus

A humorous vignette with deliciously bright colors that leap from the page. 

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Classic kid fear: accidentally swallow a watermelon seed, and the result will be a botanical version of what the zombie virus does to folks in The Walking Dead: vines will come out of your ears, and pretty soon you'll turn pink and wind up a morsel in someone else's fruit salad. In this first book from Pizzoli, the goal isn't to assuage readers' fears, but he does defuse them with help from an adorable bug-eyed crocodile who's hooked on watermelon ("Ever since I was a teeny, tiny baby crocodile, it's been my favorite. CHOMP! SLURP! CHOMP!"). Pizzoli's ostensibly simple cartooning is actually quite clever: he plays with framing and scale to gently spoof the crocodile's horror-movie imaginings ("It's growing in my guts!"), while the limited but luscious palette (watermelon pink and green, of course) and a subtly pulpy texture make each spread good enough to eat. It's an expert debut, and one with a valuable lesson, to boot: a hearty burp can brighten even the darkest hour. Ages 3-5. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (May)

Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

PreS-Gr 1--Children will love this hilarious book. Crocodile has devoured watermelon since babyhood and eats it every chance he gets. One day, however, he swallows a seed. This sends him into a panic. Will it grow inside him and come out of his ears? Will he grow larger and turn pink? The poor crocodile is so worried until he burps up the seed. He vows to never eat watermelon again, but will he be able to resist? The illustrations of the reptile's fear about what might happen to him are very funny and the oversize font on those pages reinforces the emotion in the story. The artwork was created by screen print in pink, green, black, and brown. This simplicity allows readers to fully appreciate the changes in the croc's facial expressions, which artfully contribute to the humor. The story has broad appeal, making it a great first purchase.--Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Screen printing allows for sweet intensity and subtle textures in Ben Day dots and overprinting, while the pared-down simplicity of the spreads and lively incorporation of text into the images provides graphic oomph that will reach the back row of the storytime rug. Watermelon season would be the perfect time to bring this one out-seed-spitting contest afterwards optional." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

its a good book

it was funny and creative

Greg Pizzoli
Greg Pizzoli is an author, illustrator and screen printer. When not chomping down on watermelon, he can be found in his studio or teaching at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he also received his MFA. This is his first book. Visit him at www.gregpizzoli.com.

Awards
2011 52nd Communication Arts Illustration Annual: Self Promotion Category
2011 Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Illustrator Showcase Honor Award
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781484712368
Lexile Measure
350
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
May 03, 2016
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV051000 - Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
JUV002010 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Alligators & Crocodiles
Library of Congress categories
Humorous stories
Imagination
Watermelons
Seeds
Crocodiles
Texas 2x2 Reading List
Recommended 2014 - 2014
Geisel Medal (Dr. Seuss)
Winner 2014 - 2014
Grand Canyon Reader Award
Nominee 2015 - 2015
Kentucky Bluegrass Award
Nominee 2015 - 2015
Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award
Nominee 2014 - 2014
Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Award
Winner 2014 - 2014
Monarch Award
Nominee 2016 - 2016

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