Book Description

A humorous and heartwarming story of how a young child's disappointment gets turned around in a surprising way. Flora is asked to be a frog in the class play, but she is dismayed.Frogs are green and fat, and she is afraid that everyone will laugh at her. When her mother and Aunt Jo make a frog costume for her, Flora promptly throws it up into a tree. To make matters worse later that day she lies to her mother that all her friends liked the costume. Flora is troubled by her own behavior and so angrily throws her ball over the backyard fence. When she goes to retrieve it, she makes a remarkable discovery. The ball has landed next to a pond where three frogs sit, sparkling from water drops. She watches the frogs, and loves how they sparkle and leap.Slowly she realizes that being a frog in the play may not be so bad after all.Shirley Isherwood shows young readers that a little imagination can make anything-even a fat, green frog-special and fun. Illustrator Anna Leplar's joyous watercolors bring the characters to life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Review of Flora the Frog
This is a wonderful story about a little girl who was chosen to be a frog in her school play. The problem is that Flora does not want to be a frog because she believes frogs are fat and ugly. Flora's mom makes her a frog costume for the play, but Flora is not interested and throws the costume in a tree. Towards the end of the story, Flora finds a pond that has three frogs in it. The frogs are glistening with their silvery spangles and Flora realizes that frogs are not fat and ugly and decides she wants to sew spangles on her frog costume. ... Read more

Book Description

When Kenneth Grahame first entertained his son with letters about a petulant character namedToad, he had no way of knowing that his creation—together with his friends Mole, Rat, andBadger—would delight children for nearly 100 years. Here they are once more, pursuing adventurein gypsy caravans, stolen sportscars, and prison, but always returning to their beloved Wildwood.And although Grahame’s characters are unmistakably animals, they remain endearingly human intheir eccentricity, folly, and friendship. ... Read more

Book Description

Tad just can’t stop hopping even though Mom and Dad say stop in this colorful board book for ages 3-7, but he soon learns there’s a time and place for everything. ... Read more

Book Description

Think you know all there is to know about frogs? Acclaimed author James

Martin will make you think again in this fascinating look at the ever-popular

amphibian. Martin deftly details all the froggy facts--their amazing

metamorphosis from tadpole to frog, what it means to be an amphibian--but then

he delves deeper, giving readers a reason to care about frogs. Frogs are among

the Earth's oldest creatures, dating back 190 million years. Because of their

remarkable ability to adapt to different climates and habitats, frogs are what

scientists call an indicator species: By monitoring how frogs are doing, we can

get a sense of the health of our planet. And lately frogs have been dying out

at drastic rates. Loaded with fabulous color photographs from Art Wolfe,

Frogs is a beautiful, informative, and thought-provoking introduction to

a creature many of us can find in our own backyards.




... Read more

Book Description

This whimsical story told in fun, compelling verse is full of great adventures, from encounters with lions, tigers, and hairy apes to a frog that flies an airplane and discovers a tree filled with giant polka-dot eggs. In the end, that discovery allows Frog to understand the importance of home and family. ... Read more

Book Description

With 75 full-color reusable stickers, inviting scenes to decorate, and appealing, high-interest subjects, it's no wonder kids are stuck on Sticker Stories!Whether big and fat, camouflaged or brightly colored, frogs are everywhere! See where you can put them-in the treetops of a rainforest, surfacing in a pond, or buried in the desert sand! ... Read more

Book Description

It's Louis's birthday and Uncle McAllister has brought him a very special gift&150a tadpole all the way from Scotland!Louis can hardly wait for Alphonse to grow into a frog. But it soon becomes clear that Alphonse is not turning into any ordinary frog.First Alphonse outgrows his jar, then the sink, and then the bathtub!This new edition of The Mysterious Tadpole boasts reimagined story twists and entirely new illustrations.The lovable giant of a tadpole has grown into something even more wonderful! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A monster mash
Everyone in my generation has (or should have) a favorite Steven Kellogg book. I think the kind of Kellogg book you love says a lot about the kind of person you are. For example, I'd probably have my doubts about being stuck in an elevator with anyone who professes a love for Kellogg's "How Much is a Million" books. And as for the person who gravitates towards the "Pinkerton" series, that's the kind of human being I'd be comfortable sharing a cup of cocoa with. Now myself, I'm torn. The vote really falls between Kellogg's fascinating "Island of the Skog" and "The Mysterious Tadpole". Both books are fabulous forgotten classics. But "The Mysterious Tadpole" is better known and perhaps deservedly so.

Louis has just had a birthday, and his eccentric Uncle McAlister has sent him the best present ever. A small lovable tadpole arrives in the mail, and Louis sets about making his new pet at home. Contrary to expectations, however, the tadpole (named, curiously, Alphonse) grows by leaps and bounds. When Louis's parents protest that Alphonse is too large to keep in the home, Louis improvises by placing his pet in the Junior High's swimming pool. But when even that clever plan goes awry, it's up to Louise and the local librarian Miss Seevers to concoct a plan to keep Alphonse happy and free.

Perhaps it was this book, read to me countless times in my youth, that is responsible for me becoming the librarian I am today. Miss Seevers isn't your frumpy hair in a bun, glasses on her nose, shushing librarian either. She's a smart witty woman who helps Louis to save the day. In fact all the characters in this book are imbued with a certain amount of pep and verve. Louis is just the kind of kid who wants to keep his tadpole/loch ness monster safe. And Alphonse, though he never says a word, is a child's ideal pet. Imagine it. A big friendly adorable brown-eyed monster that would like nothing more than to eat some cheeseburgers, romp, and play fetch. As for the story itself, it's got it all. A funny plot, a memorable solution, and a sly surprise ending with a whole different story suggested. The book is also filled with Kellogg's wry understatements. In this book, Louis's teacher Mrs. Shelbert has asked him to bring Alphonse in continually so that the class could see how a tadpole becomes a frog. Soon enough Alphonse is romping around the room, roughly five children on his back and more clammering to climb aboard, paper airplanes flying, and desks askew. As a disapproving teacher looks on, the text merely says, "One day Mrs. Shelbert decided that Alphonse was not turning into an ordinary frog. She asked Louis to stop bringing him to school". Understatement at its finest.

Kellogg's illustrations really give this book the extra little nudge it needed to cross over from "merely good" to "fantastic". Alphonse, for one, could not be cuter. Those big brown puppy dog eyes would inspire you to buy him a million hamburgers, if you could. Kellogg is also adept at filling each scene in the book with tiny amusing details. For example, when Louis smuggles Alphonse into the Junior High, you can see the name of the school is the "Jesse James Junior High School". Two masked and armed statues hold their guns on either side of the entrance. At another point, Louis thinks horribly of his pet being placed in a zoo, while a dreaming Alphonse pictures himself as tiny next to the largest cheeseburger in the world. The book is filled with delights such as these. My personal favorite is perhaps the most controversial section of the book. When Miss Seevers proposes locating some sunken pirate treasure sunk in the city's harbor, there is an image of Miss Seevers and Louis imagining the sinking of the ship. A huge ship (named the Poison Prune) sinks in the harbor, filled with nasty evil pirates. The cause of the sinkage? A single Native American, smiling, shoots arrows into the hull. I love it. The Native American is obviously in command of the situation while the pirates, for all their guns and nasty looks, are bound for the briny deep. It's a great moment, though I've no doubt there's the possibility that people might find the scene offensive. Frankly, it's not, but you'll just have to take my word on this one until you read the book yourself.

So there you have it. One of the world's best books written by one of the world's best author/illustrators and virtually forgotten today. If you can get your hands on a copy of this book, do so immediately. It's a fine piece of well wrought literature, enough to make you wish there had been a sequel. If this book had been written today, I've no doubt that there would have been. As it stands, however, this book is the one and only. And it's well worth any price you could pay.

The Tadpole which didn't become a frog!
This story was a favorite of mine as a child, and now I have the oppourtunity to read it to my own kids.

Louis recives a tadpole in a jar for his birthday one year from his eccentric uncle in Scotland, who happens to live near Loch Ness. Louis named his tadpole Alphonse, fed him cheeseburgers, taught him to fetch, do other tricks, and Alphonse becomes a great pet. However, he has grown too big for the apartment in which Louis and his parents live and Louis must think of something to help Alphonse have a place to live or he'll have to go to the zoo!

With the help of the local librarian, and Alphonse, Louis comes up with a plan to raise money to buy the parking lot near his building for a big swiming pool for Alphonse, and all the neighborhood kids to swim and play in.

A happy ending, just in time for Louis's next birthday, and another mysterious present from Uncle McAlister! Great for kids ages four to seven.

Happy Birthday, Alphonse.....
Louis' Uncle McAllister lives in Scotland and every year sends Louis the best birthday present. And this year was no different, a tadpole, Louis names Alphonse. But it soon becomes apparent that Alphonse is not your normal, everyday tadpole and definitely not turning into a frog. He soon outgrows his jar, then the kitchen sink, and bathtub. Louis sneaks him into the school swimming pool during summer vacation, and that works out just fine until fall when school opens. In a panic Louis consults Miss Seevers, the librarian. Librarians always have all the answers, and Miss Seevers doesn't let him down. With a phone call to Scotland, a little research, and a lot of ingenuity, Louis and Miss Severs find a clever solution and happily-ever-after ending to their problem..... First published twenty-five years ago, Steven Kellogg's creative classic, The Mysterious Tadpole, is as fresh and entertaining today as it was back in 1977. Mr Kellogg has given his new illustrations a bold and bright facelift, and tweaked the text a bit, but the engaging and fun-filled story with its hilarious twist at the end, is still sure to capture the imagination and warm your heart. Perfect for youngsters 3-7, The Mysterious Tadpole is a timeless treasure to share with friends and family now, and future generations in the years to come.

My favorite Steven Kellogg book..
I've been a Steven Kellogg fan for a long time, and this is one of the books that won me over.

Imagine being a small boy, say 6 or 7, and having an uncle from Scotland bring you an unusual tadpole for your birthday...then it doesn't turn into a frog!

The Mysterious Tadpole is a fun romp through life with a pet that grows and grows and keeps on growing.

The story is engaging, the illustrations are brilliant, and children and adults both love reading this book.

Give is a try!

5 stars all the way!

Alan Holyoak

A Big hit with boys!
The Mysterious tadpole is a book at our preschool and it is checked out so often it is diffult to get your hands on it. Boys just love this story of friendship and problem solving. As a mom, I like the values of Louie, who won't give up on his beloved pet / friend Alphonse. I would recommend it to all boys and gils of all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

One hundred years ago Rudyard Kipling told us how the whale got his throat, the camel his hump, the leopard his spots and the rhinocerous his skin. Now, at long last, Edward Allan Faine tells us how the frog got his voice. The frog's first word: freedom (BREE-DUP). His second: rabbit (RIB-BIT).

In this fun-filled picture book illustrated by Jim Hunt, we not only learn how and why the frog first croaked, but are subtly reminded of life's verities: that rights are not endowed, but secured by protest; that nothing is gained without effort; that communion with our fellow man and nature are utmost; and that we are all here to discover our voice, our uniqueness, our individuality. All these thing play out in this redemptive tale of a frog who, when it counts most, finds his voice. BREE-DUP!

Story Synopsis:
Once upon a pond there lived a frog who couldn't talk, and that made him very unhappy. Without a voice he couldn't make friends with the other animals. Then one night the frogs are snatched from their pond and carted away to a dark barn. With no sound the frogs could not cry for help, and no one could see their signs of protest. Our frog had to let the people know what the frogs wanted: their freedom. He summoned his courage -- and with great effort -- gulped and bulged and stretched his throat and belched out BREE-DUP (freedom, well, close enough, anyway). The other frogs followed suit and joined in the freedom chorus: BREE-DUP! BREE-DUP! Shocked and amazed, the people released the "mad frogs," who leapfrogged back to the safety of their pond. Finally, the frog was happy. He had found his voice. He could say freedom. He could learn other words, too, like rabbit. RIB-BIT! And make friends with the other animals. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A humorous, enjoyable, and highly affordable picturebook
Written by Edward Allan Faine and illustrated by Jim Hunt, How The Frog Got His BREE-DUP! is a humorous, enjoyable, and highly affordable picturebook for young readers, presenting a vividly presented tall tale about how the frog earned his characteristic BREE-DUP! call. A simple, enjoyable story How The Frog Got His BEE-DUP! is especially recommended for children age 2-8. Also highly recommended from IM Press is The Balloon Galloon (0965465187, [price]) written by Edward Allan Faine and illustrated by Joan C. Waites. ... Read more

Book Description

A stubborn young frog named Joe does not want to take a bath. He delays his father as long as possible by asking him to fetch his favorite toys, until Father is so loaded down he trips and lands in the mud. Now Joe is not the only one who needs a bath.

"Suitable goofiness keeps this story of maneuverings sprightly and humorous, as do the ebullient cartoony drawings, which aptly demonstrate the good-natured parry and thrusts that mark the lighter moments of parent-child discourse." —Kirkus Reviews

"The time-honored bath-procrastination ploy is portrayed, for a change, with a lovely absence of tension.Good-natured slapstick sets the tone, and Anderson"s bright rhymes follow suit, reinforced by fresh watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations dancing on bright white pages."—School Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hilarious, Heartwarming and Fun!!
Peggy gave me this book, autographed to my children, in 1996 when we went to the same church. I didnt know then what a big difference this one book would have to us. It actually improved our love of books. Its been my children's favorites ever since and its held up through 3 childrens' handling and reading. The story is colorful, imaginative and everyone loves it! I'm so proud of her books, especially this one, that has continued to warm our hearts even after 4 years of reading it frequently. If you want a book that will endure years of reading and enjoyment, the kind of book that gets passed down in the family.. this is the one to get. You will treasure this one always, like we do. Debbie and Family ... Read more

Book Description

Fun, bath-friendly fabric characters introduce Bible stories at a very early age. Comes with a frog that has suction cups to hang it anywhere-the bathtub, the shower wall, even the car window! ... Read more

Book Description

This nonfiction reader follows the ever-changing life of a frog as it grows from an egg to a tadpole to a full-grown frog!
... Read more

Reviews (2)

Big, Cool Frog Pictures
This fun little book is filled with big, detailed image of frogs from every stage, from egg to frog, It does an excellent job at showing the different levels of growth of tadpoles. There are some nice shots of tadpoles with legs starting to sprout.

There are no more than 16 words per page, making it reader-friendly for ages 5-7.

I fully recommend "Where Do Frogs Come From."

Anthony Trendl

very neat science easy reader
My son is 7 and he read this book at the library to me while we were doing a unit on frogs. The book had get real frog pictures. Also the book only had a few words per page so it's great for begining readers. Lot of great info in the book as well! ... Read more

Book Description

Three-dimensional books with interlocking leaves. The Frog jumps and tells us everything about frogs.54" x 2 3/4" For children ages 2-6 years. ... Read more

Book Description

It’s the Spring of Creation, and all of the animals are busy doing what they do best.There was no confusion.But suddenly, a strange, furless, shell-less creature appears in their midst and the animals are mystified by the strange being.The bear knew that this creature would not be as strong, the deer knew it would not be as fast, and even the grasshopper knew it was not going to hop and screech like him.

What follows is a raucous debate about what to do with the helpless being.Eat the creature?Defend the creature?Leave it to fend for itself in the forest?The fate of humanity rests in the paws and wings of the animal community.

Acclaimed author Victor Villaseñor returns, once again, to capture a traditional children’s tale for a new generation.In fresh, colloquial prose Villaseñor’s second children’s book echoes the oral tradition, as he recalls a story that his mother told him as a child. Brought to life by bold illustrations, this playful fable celebrates the relationship between humans and the animals in the natural world. ... Read more