by Eve Bunting & illustrated by Josée Masse ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 2011
Here’s to many more adventures for Frog and his friends, who are sure to go home with fans of Fluffy and Morris.
Frog and his friends Rabbit, Possum, Raccoon and Squirrel tickle funny bones, explore the world, solve problems and support each other in this trio of stories.
In the first, Frog calls his friends to see the strange orange object he finds. Their guesses as to what it might be are certain to keep readers in stitches. In the second, Raccoon’s gift of a scarf to the neckless Frog turns out to be not-so-perfect until a helping hand steps in. In the last story, a runaway zoo hippo who wants to see the world takes up every inch of space in the pond. Frog cleverly finds a way to get Hippo to appreciate the life he left behind so that he can have his pond back. Masse’s brilliantly colored cartoon illustrations capture both the forest pond that is Frog’s home as well as the personalities of each character—the rather protective mother Possum is depicted with a lacey collar, and Raccoon sports a natty poncho.
Here’s to many more adventures for Frog and his friends, who are sure to go home with fans of Fluffy and Morris. (Early reader. 5-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-548-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2011
Share your opinion of this book
More In The Series
by Eve Bunting ; illustrated by Josée Masse
by Eve Bunting & illustrated by Josée Masse
More by Eve Bunting
BOOK REVIEW
by Eve Bunting ; illustrated by Jui Ishida
BOOK REVIEW
by Eve Bunting ; illustrated by Kevin Zimmer
BOOK REVIEW
by Eve Bunting ; illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
by Craig Smith ; illustrated by Katz Cowley ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2010
Hee haw.
Awards & Accolades
Likes
69
Our Verdict
GET IT
IndieBound Bestseller
The print version of a knee-slapping cumulative ditty.
In the song, Smith meets a donkey on the road. It is three-legged, and so a “wonky donkey” that, on further examination, has but one eye and so is a “winky wonky donkey” with a taste for country music and therefore a “honky-tonky winky wonky donkey,” and so on to a final characterization as a “spunky hanky-panky cranky stinky-dinky lanky honky-tonky winky wonky donkey.” A free musical recording (of this version, anyway—the author’s website hints at an adults-only version of the song) is available from the publisher and elsewhere online. Even though the book has no included soundtrack, the sly, high-spirited, eye patch–sporting donkey that grins, winks, farts, and clumps its way through the song on a prosthetic metal hoof in Cowley’s informal watercolors supplies comical visual flourishes for the silly wordplay. Look for ready guffaws from young audiences, whether read or sung, though those attuned to disability stereotypes may find themselves wincing instead or as well.
Hee haw. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: May 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-545-26124-1
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2018
Share your opinion of this book
More by Craig Smith
BOOK REVIEW
by Craig Smith ; illustrated by Katz Cowley
BOOK REVIEW
by Doug MacLeod ; illustrated by Craig Smith
BOOK REVIEW
by Adam Osterweil and illustrated by Craig Smith
by Marc Colagiovanni ; illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2024
Just what all “perfectly perfect” kids need in order to boost their self-esteem every day.
How to be your own cheering section.
A brown-skinned, raven-haired child dressed in white gazes in the mirror and engages in a spirited, meaningful conversation with the image reflected. The dialogue is rendered in different-colored fonts: The child’s voice is set in black type, the mirror’s in purple. The reflection’s comments are effusive, complimentary, and poetic. But the child offers up warm words of praise, too; after all, the face that stares at the child from the glass is—guess whose? In sum, according to the mirror, this youngster is “perfectly perfect.” Who’ll argue with that assessment? This empowering, beautifully written book makes clear that children—all of us, actually—need, at least occasionally, to give ourselves a good pep talk to remind ourselves of our value, talents, integrity, kindness, and goodness…even if we say those things only to ourselves. This book is all about strongly believing in who we are. Plus, the more we remind ourselves of our worth, the more we and others will believe it. That mirror the child in the book looks into? It’s literally and figuratively a reflection of who we are—and the persona we present to the world. Starting off dominated by hues of purple, the illustrations grow more colorful as the book proceeds, suggesting that the protagonist’s confidence is growing as the little one ponders and reflects.
Just what all “perfectly perfect” kids need in order to boost their self-esteem every day. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781338810486
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
Share your opinion of this book
More by Marc Colagiovanni
BOOK REVIEW
by Marc Colagiovanni ; illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.