Review by Booklist Review
Kelly introduces this amphibious family, distinguishing between frogs and toads (a type of frog), describing their physical features, explaining what they eat (and what eats them), and offering examples of protective adaptations. Some frogs employ camouflage; others have toes that facilitate climbing, burrowing, or gliding; a few can hibernate during extremely dry or cold weather; and still others are poisonous. She also describes their life cycle, emphasizing the tremendous variety among species, and notes threats from pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change. Borin's inviting artwork, rendered in watercolor, marker pen, and pencil, features bright colors and depicts the textures and shadings of various species, resulting in an impressionistic feel. A few illustrations portray cutaway views, with most unlabeled. The text makes good use of color (red for basic text, black for longer explanations) and is broken up into smaller sections, positioned around the art. Although back matter is sparse, and several spreads position frogs from around the world together in the same habitat, this makes an attractive addition to the amphibian shelf.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Nature writer Kelly (Even an Octopus Needs a Home) provides a warm and vividly detailed examination of frogs. Airy spreads offer facts about frog species, behaviors, diets, common predators, habitats, and life cycles-from fertilized egg, through life as a tadpole, to full-grown frog. Italian artist Borin renders her subjects in graceful watercolors, adding naturalistic detail through pen and pencil outlines and accents; the frogs' brilliant array of skin colors are represented in mosaiclike patterns. A cutaway image shows a frog's internal organs, while another graphic depicts a frog in the process of shedding its skin: "the frog stretches, turns, and `hiccups' to loosen its old skin and pulls it over its head like a sweater," Kelly writes. A section on ecological threats facing frogs concludes with a call for readers to protect the amphibians in their own local habitats. Ages 4-8. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-Kelly, winner of numerous awards for her nature books for children, now introduces the amazing activities that encompass the life of a frog. This picture book uses simple, informative text and detailed illustrations to introduce the many varieties of frog species and their life cycles. ("Baby frogs called tadpoles.emerge with gills to help them breathe in water and tails to help them swim.") This incredible metamorphosis is illustrated in detail as a tadpole loses its fishy tail and gills and becomes a frog. Kelly peppers the text with unusual facts and bits of scientific trivia ("the golden poison frog is only as big as a paper clip, but the toxin it carries can kill 20,000 mice or 10 people"). Borin has perfectly captured the lives of frogs and their various habitats by creating attractive watercolor illustrations in a design that is reminiscent of an artist's sketchbook. The detailed drawings will encourage students to look closely as they discover different patterns and textures. Each picture shows a particular species, which Kelly carefully names even as she describes common behaviors. Also included is current information on frog disappearances and conservation efforts to save endangered ones. The simple text and detailed illustrations make this is a fun and informative tour through the exciting amphibian world. VERDICT Perfect for young researchers and a welcome addition to all libraries.-Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY © Copyright 2018. 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 Horn Book Review
Many kinds of frogs and toads at all life stages are realistically illustrated in watercolor, marker pens, and pencil with a level of detail that should attract nature lovers. Geared to mid-elementary-age readers, the engaging text (in various-size type) emphasizes an appreciation for the diversity of these amphibians and the importance of conservation. Back matter suggests how kids can help "save frogs." Ind. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Welcome to the wide world of frogs!Full of frog facts, this picture book provides an inviting introduction to the life cycle, behaviors, and characteristics of frogs. Intricate, colorful illustrations of many species are featured here, accompanied by straightforward, informative text that explains how frogs breathe, shed, hunt, eat, jump, hide, reproduce, develop, and survive in their habitats. The text feels a smidge disorganized: Most spreads focus on a particular topic though only some feature headings; certain facts seem arbitrarily highlighted; and an index is included but a table of contents is not. Still, interested readers will be drawn in by the spot-on selection of facts, as in the description of how a frog sheds its skin: "The frog stretches, turns, and hiccups' to loosen its old skin and pulls it over its head like a sweater. There is a new skin ready under the old one. The old skin is full of water and nutrientsso the frog eats it!" (Readers will wish the delicately drawn accompanying illustrations showed the frog wrestling with its skin rather than standing still in three different views during the process.) Two pages of fairly dense concluding text provide information on how frogs are affected by environmental issues; a closing list of bullet points includes concrete actions kids can take to help. A solid addition to the nature shelf. (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
