I Don't Want to Be a Frog
I Don't Want to Be a Frog
Select a format:
Perma-Bound Edition ©2018--
Publisher's Hardcover ©2015--
Paperback ©2018--
To purchase this item, you must first login or register for a new account.
Random House
Annotation: A frog who yearns to be any animal that is cute and warm discovers that being wet, slimy, and full of bugs has its advantages.
Genre: [Animal fiction]
 
Reviews: 3
Catalog Number: #169349
Format: Perma-Bound Edition
Common Core/STEAM: Common Core Common Core
Publisher: Random House
Copyright Date: 2018
Edition Date: 2015 Release Date: 12/11/18
Illustrator: Boldt, Mike,
Pages: 1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN: Publisher: 1-9848520-8-6 Perma-Bound: 0-7804-2757-2
ISBN 13: Publisher: 978-1-9848520-8-3 Perma-Bound: 978-0-7804-2757-0
Dewey: E
LCCN: 2014012949
Dimensions: 26 cm.
Language: English
Reviews:
ALA Booklist

There is no denying it: frogs don't have long ears, or wings, or curly tails. Nope. Little Frog is lacking these crucial qualifications for being a rabbit, an owl, or a pig. But he sure doesn't want to be a frog. He is not into the slime aspect or the bug-eating. It's left to his calm, rational dad to explain why he, a frog, cannot be, say, a pig. "Most of all because you're a Frog. But also because you don't have a curly tail or eat garbage." When Frog protests, "I can eat garbage," his dad replies, "Everyone says that until they eat garbage." The young frog remains dissatisfied until a passing predator explains one unique benefit of being a frog: frogs are the one thing he won't eat, "too wet and slimy and full of bugs." Lively digitally painted illustrations capture the interplay between the impulsive little frog and his patient dad. Silliness and deadpan humor combine into a hopping good story of being happy with who you are.

School Library Journal (Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2014)

PreS-Gr 2 Expressive, painted illustrations depict two bipedal frogs deep in a discussion. The duo is set against a solid colored background where sparse details successfully highlight the conversation, which is conveyed in speech balloons. The smaller of the frogs announces that he doesn't want to be a frog, he'd prefer to be a cat, pig, rabbit, or owl. The larger frog has a counterargument for each choice. Finally, a large wolf interjects that we would eat anything, except for frogs, the reasons being the qualities that the small frog also dislikes: too wet, slimy, and bug-eating. This amusing story ends with a laugh and a much more content frog. Laura Hunter, Mount Laurel Library, NJ

Reviewing Agencies: - Find Other Reviewed Titles
ALA Booklist
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
School Library Journal (Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2014)
Word Count: 385
Reading Level: 1.6
Interest Level: P-2
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 1.6 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 174224 / grade: Lower Grades
Reading Counts!: reading level:1.2 / points:1.0 / quiz:Q71372
Lexile: AD380L
Guided Reading Level: J
Fountas & Pinnell: J

The hit book about a willful young frog with a serious identity crisis and his heard-it-all-before father is now available in paperback. Perfect for fans of Mo Willems’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Jon Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back!

Frog wants to be anything but a slimy, wet frog. A cat, perhaps. Or a rabbit. An owl? But when a hungry wolf arrives—a wolf who HATES eating frogs—our hero decides that being himself isn’t so bad after all. In this very silly story with a sly message, told in hilarious dialogue between a feisty young frog and his heard-it-all-before father, young readers will identify with little Frog’s desire to be something different, while laughing along at his stubborn yet endearing schemes to prove himself right.

And look for the hilarious sequels—I Don't Want to Be Big, There's Nothing to Do!, and I Don't Want to Go to Sleep.

★ "First-time author Petty’s dialogue between a frog father and his son makes its point about accepting one’s nature with a big grin. . . . The story might create similar gratitude in the minds of readers—or it might just make them giggle."—Publishers WeeklySTARRED REVIEW

"A lively look at self-acceptance."—Kirkus

"This amusing story ends with a laugh and a much more content frog."—School Library Journal

"Silliness and deadpan humor combine into a hopping good story of being happy with who you are."—Booklist

"A paean to self-acceptance wrapped in snappy dialogue and illustrated with richly colored comic paintings."—Wall Street Journal

"Petty and Boldt provide just enough predictability to hook youngest readers, then deliver a delightful twist or two to create surprise and satisfaction—for both the green hero and the many fans he'll make with this book."—Shelf Awareness

"This lighthearted exploration of identity will delight as a readaloud."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books


*Prices subject to change without notice and listed in US dollars.
Perma-Bound bindings are unconditionally guaranteed (excludes textbook rebinding).
Paperbacks are not guaranteed.
Please Note: All Digital Material Sales Final.