A picture book presents one year in the life of a hypothetical leopard frog, from conception in the spring through hibernation. Along the way, readers learn some pretty cool frog facts: “A male frog fills pouches of loose skin on either side of his mouth with air. Then he forces the air back and forth over his vocal chords. It sounds like a hand rubbing a wet balloon. But to a female frog it is a beautiful song.” But within these frog facts lie some concerns. First, terms unfamiliar to the book’s natural audience, such as “vocal chords”—or dragonfly “nymph” or “scavenger”—are presented without elaboration (and in the case of vocal cords, homonymically confused). Second, thoughts and emotions are occasionally imputed without any real basis: how can the author, or anyone else, really know what the lady frogs think about the gentleman frogs’ “song”? These concerns aside, Chrustowski (Army Ant Parade, 2002, etc.) by and large does a good job of presenting the basic facts of frog life. The frog duly grows from tadpolehood to maturity, a couple of encounters with predators adding dramatic tension and hinting at the fates of other, not-so-lucky frogs. Colored pencil drawings over watercolor wash are sharp, clear, and accurate, but they do not have the artistry of, say, a Jim Arnosky illustration. A full page of further “Frog Facts” follows the narrative, somewhat duplicating what has gone before and neglecting to mention such a salient fact as the range of the leopard frog. With a wealth of frog books available to the budding scientist, this is just an additional purchase. (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-7)
Pub Date: April 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-8050-6688-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2003
Hee haw.
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
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Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...
Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.
First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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