Copyright Date:
2018
Edition Date:
2015
Release Date:
04/17/18
Illustrator:
Boldt, Mike,
Pages:
1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN:
0-525-57950-8
ISBN 13:
978-0-525-57950-2
Dewey:
E
LCCN:
2017946994
Dimensions:
18 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
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
Word Count:
318
Reading Level:
1.6
Interest Level:
P-2
Accelerated Reader:
reading level: 1.6
/ points: 0.5
/ quiz: 186830
/ 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 picture book about a frog who does NOT want to be a frog is now a board book!
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 children 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 Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
"A lively look at self-acceptance."—Kirkus Reviews
"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