Review by Booklist Review
In this dressed-animal story for beginning readers, young Frog checks out a book on magic at the library and reads it in a nearby park. When a flattened yellow ball lands beside him, he tries a few magic spells to fix it. Frustrated, he kicks it high into the air and watches it grow in size as it falls back. "'Help!' The ball chases Frog. 'Help!' Frog runs to the library." The lengthy chase continues until Frog finally outfoxes the ball. Later, hearing a cry for help, he watches the ball chase Rabbit down the sidewalk. If this plot summary makes the ball sound demonic and the adventure somewhat nightmarish, that possibility is considerably softened by the pen-and-ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations, which tilt the story's tone toward humor with its soft, warm colors and slapstick approach. In this graphic novel for beginning readers, the images and dialogue resemble an animated cartoon on the page, where the story unfolds in brief narrative sentences, speech balloon comments, and simple, expressive pictures. An amusing book for beginning readers.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--This fresh new animal caper for beginning readers opens with a curious frog checking out a book of magic from the library. The unimaginable happens for Frog as soon as he sits down on a bench and opens the pages of the elusive book. He discovers a flattened ball that comes to life, wreaking havoc as the amphibian seeks refuge in the library, pursued by the ball. A librarian's worst nightmare becomes a playful romp as books and carts go flying. Frog must find a way to make the magic cease. Anthropomorphized characters are at the center of this engaging, entertaining early reader. The comic format allows the action to play out visually, complementing the limited text. Caple's artwork has a soft, animated quality that provides a comforting touch. Repetitive phrases assist with pacing, and the narrative is also well suited for reading aloud. VERDICT An amusing tale for beginning readers, in a comic style that will build reading skills while providing ample laughs.--Claire Moore, Manhattan Beach Lib., CA
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Never underestimate the chaotic fun that magic and an angry bouncing ball can create. When Frog goes to the library, he borrows a book on magic. He then heads to a nearby park to read up on the skills necessary to becoming "a great magician." Suddenly, a deflated yellow ball lands with a "Thud!" at his feet. Although he flexes his new magician muscles, Frog's spells fall as flat as the ball. But when Frog shouts "Phooey!" and kicks the ball away, it inflates to become a big, angry ball. The ball begins to chase Frog, so he seeks shelter in the library--and Frog and ball turn the library's usual calm into chaos. The cartoon chase crescendos. The ball bounces into the middle of a game of chess, interrupts a puppet show, and crashes into walls and bookcases. Staying just one bounce ahead, Frog runs, hides, grabs a ride on a book cart, and scatters books and papers as he slides across the library furniture before an alligator patron catches the ball and kicks it out the library door. But that's not the end of the ball….Caple's tidy panels and pastel-hued cartoons make a surprisingly effective setting for the slapstick, which should have young readers giggling. Simple sentences--often just subject and verb--with lots of repetition propel the action. Frog's nonsense-word spells ("Poof Wiffle, Bop Bip!") are both funny and excellent practice in phonetics. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Fast and furious action guaranteed to keep new readers laughing and turning pages. (Graphic early reader. 5-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
