THE COMPLETE FROG: A Guide for the Very Young Naturalist

by Elizabeth A. Lacey ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 22, 1989

While young frog-fanciers will enjoy the colorful, often odd-looking frogs illustrated here, they may be less enthusiastic about the text, which is at times puzzling, redundant, or imprecise: ""Frogs are a marvelous, amazing part of our marvelous amazing world. . ."" Indeed, but clearer explanations would be more helpful. Eggs are fertilized--""made hatchable""--by sperm from the male. Made hatchable? The term ""metamorphosis"" is never introduced, although it is pivotal in discussing the dramatic changes the frog undergoes from egg to adult. Lacey's discussion of the origin and alteration of the word frog (""frogga"" in King Arthur's time--whenever that was--to ""frogge"" in Robin Hood's time to ""froke"" 50 years before Columbus) will have little meaning for most young readers. Moreover, describing the scientific procedures for counting frogs in the natural environment as ""an educated guess"" may well make scientists wince.

Pub Date: March 22, 1989

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 72

Publisher: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1989

Categories: CHILDREN'S