ALA Booklist (Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2016)

Newbery medalist Alexander introduces Bro (the green frog surfer) and Dude (the red frog reader). "You'd rather read a book than go to the beach?" asks Bro. "SHHHH! I'm almost done," replies Dude. The pair ride to the ocean; Dude reading, and Bro steering the scooter. Despite Bro's pretense of disinterest, he soon becomes curious about Dude's exciting tale of whale versus man, as Dude can't keep his enthusiasm to himself: he shouts things like Wowie Kazowie! and Whoa, Daddy-O! every time something happens. As Dude finishes the Totally Awesome Book! he is off to surf in the ocean, while Bro, desperate to hear the exciting conclusion, picks it up and stays on the sand. Bright and colorful page spreads illustrate the personalities of the active protagonists, as well as the action-packed scenes of Dude's book: the crazed captain, the embattled ship, the writhing whale, and the catastrophic conclusion. The simple text is in two colors, red and green, to match the two friends' conversations. A fun romp with a twist.

Horn Book

SURF'S UP, BRO!

School Library Journal (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2015)

PreS-K Bro and Dude, two frog friends, have differing ideas about what makes for a fun day at the beach. Dude, dressed in swim trunks, surfboard in hand, is totally ready to catch some waves. Bro, meanwhile, has his head buried in a book ( Moby-Dick ) and wants to keep reading. Despite his claim that "books are boring," Dude finds himself increasingly interested in the story about a man looking for a whale. As the characters make their way to the seashore, Bro reads aloud and the illustrations transform to showcase the action of Melville's classic tale, cleverly substituting Bro the frog in the place of Captain Ahab. Pirate lingo ("Batten down the hatches!") and surfer slang ("Cowabunga!") enliven the story and will have young listeners giggling. Miyares's digitally created illustrations are expressive and full of energy and motiona perfect complement to Alexander's simple yet buoyant text. VERDICT A joyful and humor-filled ode to the magic of imagination and reading. Kiera Parrott , School Library Journal