In Outdoor, Frog's jokes are the hit of the pond concert, he helps Squirrel save a baby bird, and he soothes his friends' fears after a scary story. In Saves, the animals discover the source of a loud noise and Frog rescues a baby possum from the river. Colorful illustrations of the charming pond critters are well placed within the easy-to-read vignettes.

Gr 1-4 This latest installation in the series contains two stand-alone stories about Frog's heroic deeds. In "Frog and the Green Dragon," Raccoon comes to Frog because she can't sleep. Something in the night makes a big, loud noise like thunder that scares her. Frog leads his friends to discover a huge, long dragon with one eye traveling on a track. Readers know the "dragon" is a train by the illustrations, but Frog and his friends use their animal logic to alleviate their fears. In "Frog and the Big River Rescue," Frog thinks quickly and risks his life to save one of Possum's babies who falls in the river. Beginning independent readers and fans of the series may find this title exciting and rewarding. For teachers, librarians, and parents, the book comes leveled by standards for guided reading. Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampa