Description

“Wow, you must really like vegetables!” a passing fox called out to Benny the bear.

Benny sighed. He hated vegetables just as much as anyone. His green coloring had nothing to do with eating spinach, asparagus, or peas. His favorite food was chocolate. And, Benny growled to himself, chocolate was the color a bear ought to be.

“Look there,” a mother rabbit said, pointing at Benny. “He must be so good at eating his lettuce that his fur has turned green.”

“That’s it,” Benny groaned. His green color had to go.

That evening, an idea struck him. He had a chocolate stash at home. Perhaps if he ate it all in one go, his fur would turn brown, and he could finally stop the constant vegetable comments. He curled up in his favorite cozy chair and unwrapped his first chocolate. Delicious! This would be easy.

Fifteen chocolates later, it was another story. Before plopping into bed, Benny stopped by the mirror to check his reflection. He searched for tinges of brown on his green coat. Nothing. Frustrated and feeling a little sick, Benny went to bed.

The next morning, his tummy ache persisted. Why had he eaten so much chocolate? He lumbered down to the grocery store, but the only thing that sounded appealing was something fresh. He wandered down the aisles, and there it was: a bright green head of broccoli calling out to him. This looks delicious, Benny thought.

As he brought the broccoli to the checkout lane, the cashier commented on his selection. “Your dinner matches your fur!” he said with a grin.

“Yes, it does,” Benny smiled back. “And that’s just fine with me.”

Green is the color most often associated with nature because it dominates plants, thanks to chlorophyll, the green pigment that enables photosynthesis. The word “green” comes from the Old English word grēne, which is related to the words “grow” and “grass,” reinforcing the color’s connection to life and growth. Green sits between blue and yellow on the color wheel, created by mixing these neighboring colors together. In many cultures, green symbolizes growth, hope, and good luck. It is often associated with holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day and is even Ireland’s national color. On a less positive note, green has long been linked with jealousy and envy. The phrase “green with envy” dates back to at least Shakespeare’s time; in fact, Shakespeare reinforced this connection by coining the phrase “green-eyed monster” to describe jealousy.

Specifications

Materials: Soft plush exterior with polyester shell and polypropylene cotton stuffing

Height: 3.15" Inches Tall