Like all green tree pythons, Verdi is born with beautiful golden yellow skin and he dreads the day he will mature into the an adult with green skin. Verdi has seen the old greens, lounging around on tree branches, day after day, doing nothing. He vows to stay young and active-- and yellow! But even a creative snake can't change nature, and Verdi finds a way to feel comfortable in his own green skin. Jannell Cannon's acrylic paintings are filled with surprising humor, owing to her blend of natural realism with completely unnatural acrobatic stunts performed by the pythons in the story. (Ages 4-8)

Deep in the jungle where all the pythons are green, Verdi is born a little bit different. This gorgeously illustrated picture book from the creator of Stellaluna sends a timely message to young readers about the importance of loving the skin you're in.

Young Verdi doesn't want to grow up big and green. He likes his bright yellow skin and sporty stripes. Besides, all the green snakes he meets are lazy, boring, and rude. When Verdi finds a pale green stripe stretching along his whole body, he tries every trick he can think of to get rid of it--and ends up in a heap of trouble. Despite his efforts, Verdi turns green, but to his delight, he discovers that being green doesn't mean he has to stop being himself.