A Frog's Life

Written by Irene Kelly
Illustrated by Margherita Borin
Published May 8, 2018

Why we chose this book:
T is enthusiastic about animals. A recent trip to the EcoTarium introduced us to a frog close-up, igniting his curiosity about the amphibians. Then I came across this book. I contacted the publisher for a review copy, which they provided.

Mom's Review

An in-depth look at the frog's life-cycle and traits.

I learned a lot about frogs and enjoyed reading this to T; T tells me everything he learned is "a secret," but that the book is "awesome, awesome, awesome." And overall, it was a good fit for us; the level of detail and vocabulary used was interesting and understandable with minimal adult support. A Frog's Life is intended for ages 4-8, and T's attention did wane as the end approached. To start, the bright watercolor illustrations caught our attention: myriad frogs are depicted (T's favorite is the blue poison-dart frog), accompanied by a snippet of text. From the basic life cycle and characteristics of a frog, the author moves on to superlatives. Readers will learn about amphibians, tadpoles, diet, and the most poisonous frog. The tone is conversational, and Kelly uses some questions to introduce different topics. For example, the audience is asked, "How can you tell when a frog is a toad?" I feel a little dumb for not realizing that toads were frogs. Concluding with a look at the harmful impact humans have had on these creatures, A Frog's Life informs, cautions, and finally encourages a responsibility toward nature.

Son's Comments while Reading 
Note: We did not do a review afterward. T said that all of his review thoughts were secrets. He has recently found an excitement in telling us that some things are secrets (usually when he's up to mischief).

Son, pointing to an illustration of the skeletal system: Look! Those are the bones inside it!
__________________________________
Mom: Would you want to find a new frog? What would you do?

Son: Yes. Run away.

Mom: I think I'd try to capture it and put it in a specimen case. Then I'd show people the new frog and I'd get to name it!

Son: I would put my frog in a cup, throw food in the cup. And then I'd get water in the cup for the frog to drink. And then I'd put a lid on so the frog wouldn't escape

Mom: Would you give him a name?

Son: No. I'd just tell people "The Frog."
__________________________________
Mom, reading: They breathe through their skin.

Son: That's gross. That just sounds gross.
__________________________________
Mom, reading: The old skin is full of water and nutrients, so the frog eats it!

Son: Gross! Why does the frog eat its skin?

Mom: That's healthy for a frog...it has nutrients.

Son: That doesn't sound healthy to me!
__________________________________
Mom: People often eat frogs. Would you eat a frog?

Son: Yes, but first I would need to hunt it. Why do you eat dead animals? Why do you not eat live animals?

Mom: Well, you need to cook it. You have to cook it so that it is right for your body.
__________________________________
Son: Why does the female destroy the nest?

Mom: The female doesn't destroy the nest. The male and female make the nest together. It says she secretes a sticky fluid. That means that she makes the sticky fluid, the sticky liquid, from her body. Then they work together to make the nest and they hang it from a tree.
__________________________________
Son: What are the frog diseases?

Mom: It says chytrid fungus. That's a sickness on their skin...What would you do if you were a scientist?

Son: Save a frog. If I were a scientist I would protect one and keep one as a pet.