Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The author/artist's trademark cut-paper collages add distinction to a tale of a toad who saves three frogs from a floodand from endless bickering. Ages 3-7. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1 Although there's not as much depth as in Frederick (1966) or as much whimsy as in Alexander. . . (1969, both Pantheon), this is still a fine choice for spring story hours. Three childlike frogs spend their days bickering and baiting each other: it's mine, claims one about the water. Another purports ownership of the earthor a wormor a butterflyor whatever. It isn't until disaster almost stikes and they are saved by a toad that Milton, Rupert and Lydia realize that private ownership isn't that important. Whether grumbling for the sake of being difficult or dancing with delight, Lionni's frogs spring to life. Collages of marbled-textured paper, all in cool, crisp, spring-like colors against a stark white background, are a perfect match for this story of selfishness on the pond, carried out in beautifully simple line and language. Trev Jones, ``School Library Journal'' (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Another sweetly didactic picture book in Lionni's familiar, brightly colored collage style. Three frogs spend their time quarreling, mostly over territory (Mil. ton: ""The water is mine""; Rupert: ""The earth is mine""; Lydia: ""The air is mine""; and so forth). Despite the warnings of a neighboring toad, they persist until a storm forces them to the one rock in the pond remaining above the flood waters. When the sun returns, they discover that the rock was, in fact, the toad who has thus taught them a lesson in cooperation. The three take it to heart, joyfully proclaiming the island ""ours!"" Like most of Lionni's work, this is not subtle, but its young-reader audience will Find the language clear and precise, the illustrations cleanly done and full of action. Unfortunately, the binding sometimes obscures essential parts of the pictures. Overall, the art lacks the wit of Frederick and the extravagance of Swimmy and Inch by Inch, but suits the story well. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
