TIME TO SPLIT

Frog’s life inside the greenhouse is predictable—and this amphibian wouldn’t have it any other way.

Each day brings the same pleasures: a new bath towel, a morning walk, a glass of banana juice. Frog briefly considers joining the birds migrating outside the greenhouse but quickly has a change of heart: “Why would I leave? Things are good here. It’s always warm. Plus, there are bananas. And I bet birds are super loud.” As if on cue, a soft-spoken bird arrives, pulls an oven from an oversize backpack, and teaches the initially resistant amphibian how to make muffins. Frog enjoys the tasty treats, but just like that, the bird leaves (“Look—my flock is moving on”). When Frog attempts to make muffins alone, the oven explodes, shattering one of the greenhouse panels and leading to an epiphany: There’s a whole world out there to explore. Though this German import feels a bit abruptly paced, Fehr and Kolly nevertheless draw readers in. Lush, verdant artwork pairs with effective narration for a portrait of an enjoyably smug, self-satisfied protagonist. Kolly divides each page of this picture book into panels, much like a graphic novel, until the final scene, a double-page spread in which Frog strolls outside at last—an inspired way of showing how our hero’s world has grown.

A quirky invitation to expand one’s boundaries.