FROG

Thomas and Egnéus explore the history of the universe through an appealingly simple lens: a single frog.

As a tan-skinned child observes frog eggs in a pond, Thomas poses a fundamental question: “Where did the first frog come from?” What follows is an extraordinary journey backward through billions of years, from the Big Bang through the formation of stars, the creation of our planet, the emergence of life, and evolution’s long march toward amphibians. Thomas’ poetic text maintains scientific accuracy while remaining comprehensible, explaining complex concepts such as atomic formation and cellular evolution without overwhelming youngsters. The refrain “but there were no frogs yet” provides both structure and a sense of anticipation as readers follow the progression from cosmic dust to living creatures. Egnéus’ illustrations are stunning, moving seamlessly from swirling galaxies and exploding stars rendered in deep blues and fiery oranges to microscopic life forms dancing in jewel tones. His mixed-media approach combines painted textures with digital elements, creating images that feel both scientifically grounded and dreamlike. The book beautifully circles back to modern frogs, connecting their life cycles to the entire cosmic story. Like the duo’s previous collaboration, Fox (2021), this work uses a familiar animal to illuminate profound concepts, though here the scope expands from life cycles to the universe itself. While ostensibly about frogs, this is fundamentally a creation story for the scientific age.

An awe-inspiring introduction to cosmic evolution that makes the universe’s story feel both intimate and infinite.