ALA Booklist

Jessica the frog discovers an egg, which her frog friend Marilyn identifies as a chicken egg. A baby alligator hatches out, but the frogs continue to call it a chicken. When Jessica helps the little chicken find his mother, she's amused when the mother calls him my sweet little alligator. It's not much of a story, but preschoolers who are old enough to know their alligators from their chickens will enjoy being in on the joke. Lionni's collages of cut papers, shaded with crayons or oil pastels, make distinctive double-page spreads that show up well at a distance, and the text is clearly written. A mildly appealing animal tale for Lionni fans. (Reviewed June 1994)

Horn Book

Jessica the frog finds what her friends assure her is a chicken egg, and, eventually, a long, green, scaly 'chicken' emerges and plays with the frogs all day long. The 'chicken' finds its mother, who smiles an enormous smile and calls her ''my sweet little alligator.'' Lionni's simple animal shapes are a perfect complement to the quiet humor of the story.

Kirkus Reviews

Jessica is a fancier of stones and pebbles, but her friends Marilyn and August, also frogs, don't share her enthusiasm until she turns up with what Marilyn, who knew everything about everything,'' identifies as achicken egg.'' The little chicken'' that hatches is congenial and loves the water; once she even saves Jessica when she gets entangled in water weeds. Then thechicken's'' mother turns up, greeting her baby, accurately, as my sweet little alligator.'' With the frogs urging them to visit soon, the alligators depart amiably, leaving the trio to laugh at thechicken'' who called her baby an alligator: ``What a silly thing to say!'' Lionni's mixed-media art (soft, delicately stylized settings in subtle colors, ample white space, appealing collage-like figures) is particularly felicitous, and kids will love identifying the little alligator and laughing at the frogs' mistake. Just the thing to lighten up a picture-book hour. (Picture book. 3-7)"

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Lionni """"is in typically fine form"""" with this witty story about three frogs who have a """"memorable"""" adventure, said PW. Ages 4-8. (Nov.)

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-A fable about friendship with a touch of mistaken identity. One day Jessica, an adventuresome young frog, rolls home a beautiful stone'' to show her two froggy friends. Marilyn, who knowseverything about everything,'' states with absolute certainty that it's a chicken egg. So when an alligator hatches, the three frogs are surprised and delighted with how well their chicken'' can swim. When she saves Jessica from drowning in a tangle of weeds, the two become inseparable friends. One day, a bird lands to lead the alligator back to her mother; Jessica accepts this with equanimity. She is a heroine whose wonder at the world and loyalty to her friends rank her with such erstwhile heroes as Joyce'sBently'' and Dr. Seuss's ``Horton.'' But while those two stalwarts protect and cherish their eggs before they hatch, most of this story centers on the relationship that develops after the little alligator springs from its shell. Lionni's understated text perfectly complements his signature illustrations, which are a skillful combination of collage, crayon, and watercolors. An eggs-traordinary treat from a master storyteller.-Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY