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FROGGY'S WORST PLAYDATE

Name: FROGGY'S WORST PLAYDATE
Author: Jonathan London
ISBN: 978-0-670-01427-9

by Jonathan London & illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 7, 2013

Not the most smoothly transitioned of Froggy fare, but endearing nevertheless.

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Fans expect a flop flop flop in every Froggy adventure, but in this latest work, Froggy’s emotions flip-flop more than his webbed feet ever do.

Froggy wakes up, excited to start the weekend by going outside to play. But none of his friends are home. Luckily, his mom has a solution: She has set up a play date with Frogilina. Froggy’s reaction? “I’M NOT GOING!” Froggy slams the door—“BLAM!”—wails on his saxophone (“SQUAAAAAAWK”) and throws a ball against the wall (“thump thump thump”) to release some anger. But then he realizes that he does want to see the movie, even if Frogilina has to come along. He snaps on his favorite bowtie, slaps on some of Dad’s aftershave (Froggy’s true feelings come out) and heads to the theater. Froggy, of course, can’t sit still for an entire movie, and somehow Frogilina manages yet again to give him a great big smooch on the cheek. EEEWWW. London deals with a classic young-child dilemma—wrestling with the embarrassment of having a crush—with sympathetic humor. A post-movie visit to an ice-cream stand feels more tacked on to provide additional sound-effect opportunities than derived organically from the story, alas.

Not the most smoothly transitioned of Froggy fare, but endearing nevertheless. (Picture book. 3-5)

Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-670-01427-9

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: Dec. 25, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2013

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
HERE COMES SHOPKEEPER HIPPO
by Jonathan London ; illustrated by Gilles Eduar

- BOOK REVIEW
HERE COMES TRUCK DRIVER HIPPO
by Jonathan London ; illustrated by Gilles Eduar

- BOOK REVIEW
FROGGY FOR PRESIDENT!
by Jonathan London ; illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

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TOM RABBIT

by Martin Waddell & illustrated by Barbara Firth ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2001

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Shades of The Velveteen Rabbit: young Sammy takes his plush friend Tom out one day to see "real rabbits," then runs off, distracted. Perched atop a stone wall, Tom tries to make the best of things as the sun sets, the moon rises (" 'I've never seen that before,' thought Tom Rabbit"), and wild rabbits gambol below (" 'I'm not scared one bit' ”). Using her characteristic soft lines and pale palette, Firth creates large, simply drawn scenes, subtly conveying Tom's growing apprehension with changes in the length of his mouth or the attitude of his stubby front limbs. Just when Tom is sure that he's been abandoned, Sammy comes for him, and the two are last seen snuggling down contentedly in bed together. As is only to be expected from the team that created the Big Bear and Little Bear stories, the emotional landscape here will be familiar to any toddler or post-toddler, and the ending positively glows with comfort. Read this to your bunny (to paraphrase Rosemary Wells) only if you're prepared for repeat performances. (Picture book. 3-5)

Pub Date: March 1, 2001

ISBN: 0-7636-1089-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2001

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
CAPTAIN SMALL PIG
by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Susan Varley

- BOOK REVIEW
THE SUPER HUNGRY DINOSAUR
by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Leonie Lord

- BOOK REVIEW
SLEEP TIGHT, LITTLE BEAR
by Martin Waddell & illustrated by Barbara Firth

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WHO'S THERE?

by Carole Lexa Schaefer & illustrated by Pierr Morgan ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2011

Make room for this one—with its spot-on characterization, humorous details and wordplay, this stands out even among the...

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Schaefer and Morgan have again paired up (Kids Like Us, 2008, etc.), this time bringing readers an emotionally expressive and linguistically playful book about nighttime fears.

BunBun is an exuberant young rabbit who has no problem going to bed. But once he’s there, he hears noises down the hallway. With Boo, his bear, he is initially able to brush aside his fears, but as the noises get closer, he dives under the covers. His overactive imagination envisions the nasty creatures that must be creeping toward him. It might be a “Crusty Dumply Ogre, / with gnarly curly toes,” or it could be a “Grimy Gooey Ghoulie / with a snuffly droozly nose.” BunBun’s reactions mirror those of a small child—hiding under the covers, freezing in fear with heart beating madly. And the noise? Just his little brother come to check out the noises he heard. Courage restored, BunBun is able to act the part of protective big brother. Schaefer masterfully plays with language both in lines that often rhyme and in invented words that could feasibly have come straight from a young child’s imagination. And Morgan’s ink-and-gouache artwork perfectly captures this. Her portrayal of BunBun’s imaginary monsters are just silly enough not to spark fears in readers.

Make room for this one—with its spot-on characterization, humorous details and wordplay, this stands out even among the crowd of similar books. (Picture book. 3-5)