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FROGGY'S BIRTHDAY WISH by Jonathan London

FROGGY'S BIRTHDAY WISH

by Jonathan London ; illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

Pub Date: March 10th, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-670-01572-6
Publisher: Viking

In his 24th adventure, Froggy finally celebrates a birthday.

Froggy cannot wait. He starts the day off right by singing “Happy birthday to meeeeeeeee!” while bouncing excitedly on his bed. But when he sees his family at the breakfast table, no one seems to remember that it is his special day. So he flops over to all of his friends’ houses, but no one is home. Has everyone forgotten Froggy’s birthday?! Of course not—there’s a surprise party waiting for him at home. The story arc then shifts to Froggy’s presents (all providing fodder for Froggy’s wild antics and zany sound effects) before finally settling on Froggy’s birthday wish—a piñata, given to him by none other than Frogilina. The story plods, er, flops along with no real momentum. Remkiewicz’s expressive characters do their best to add energy, and the extra zings and bonks help, but as the subject suggests, Froggy just may be getting old.

Predictable fare to be sure, but series fans will likely follow Froggy wherever he goes.

(Picture book. 3-6)