Frog meets dog

K-Gr 2--Dog really wants to play with Frog, Frog, and Frog, but they are not interested. Dog can't seem to do anything the Frogs like to do--like hop! Plus, Dog's playing tends to end in some sort of accidental mayhem, like fending off a swarm of angry bees. But will the Frog trio change their minds when Dog steps in to save them from scary Bear? This accessible chapter book, styled in three short stories, will be of interest to most young readers. The text utilizes humor, repetition, and rhyming to build fluency. Trasler's cartoon-like illustrations are bright and expressive. VERDICT This early reader would be an appropriate selection for any new reader who delights in unlikely friendship stories and depictions of physical comedy.--Tiffany Davis, Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY

An early reader for the earliest of readers. Trasler's cartoon illustrations heighten the humor of her spare text, which has ample rhymes and assonance to support new decoders. While the title indicates just one frog, readers see that a trio of frogs (each evidently named Frog) is leery when Dog arrives on the scene, eager to play. Dog tries to befriend them, saying, "Hi. / Hi. / Hi," to each one in turn in speech-balloon text. The illustrations show amphibious rebuffs, and then Dog, defeated, says, "SIGH." The intrepid pup then tries to "Hop / Hop / Hop" like the frogs, but the result is a "FLOP." An attempt to emulate the frogs as they "Leap / Leap / Leap" ends with a plunge into a "DEEP" pond. An effort to "Jump / Jump / Jump" results in a "THUMP" on a paper-wasp nest. "Go. / Go. / Go," say the newly stung frogs. "Oh," says Dog, slinking off, also bearing signs of several wasp stings. Frog, Frog, and Frog soon rue their words, however, when Bear arrives--whereupon Dog saves them by hurling the paper-wasp nest at Bear. "Ow! / Ow! / Ow!" yells Bear. "WOW!" say the frogs, who now welcome Dog to play with them and help their canine rescuer find success in keeping up with them. Step-by-step backmatter drawing instructions invite readers to draw the frogs, inviting an added layer of engagement with the book. Reader, meet Frogs and Dog--you won't be sorry. (Early reader. 5-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

From THE SAVAGE FORTRESS: Ash tightened his hold on the drainpipe and hoisted himself up. The pipe shook and leaned away from the wall. John had told him he regularly scrabbled up such drainpipes -- how hard could it be? But then John was half his body weight, even after all the exercise Ash had been doing. Arms and legs wrapped around the clay pipe, Ash slowly shimmied upward. The rough surface scraped against his skin, rubbing his belly raw. Cables brushed against his back, and Ash hoped he wasn't about to be electrocuted. But the wires seemed dead, and he found gaps in the walls to push himself the last few feet. With a grunt he heaved himself over the low parapet, dropping on to the flat roof. Holding his breath and willing his heart to quieten, he heard a deep, threatening growl. The drainpipe rattled, then tore off the wall and smashed. Excerpted from Frog Meets Dog by Janee Trasler All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.