The Frog Book - Book Review

Book Review
The Frog Book
By Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
Published February 26, 2019

Why we chose this book:
We had frogs in the backyard pond. Then eggs. Now tadpoles. 'Nuff said. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mom's Review

If you want to learn about frogs, and you have little to no knowledge, this is an excellent place to start.

This is not our first frog rodeo, but we are far from experts. Last year, we reviewed A Frog's Life, which was also excellent. Neither book is better or worse, they just have different levels of detail. Right now, we are most interested in the life cycle and body parts of the frog. The Frog Book is a bit more basic and therefore an ideal fit at this time. Topics range from body parts to mating habits to protection to habitat. Each topic is addressed in a two-page spread. A brief introductory paragraph is followed by large, bright, annotated illustrations. Language is clear and text length ensures that the reader is informed while his/her attention is retained.

T and I have been watching and catching the tadpoles in the pond right now, but haven't been sure what to expect. The Frog Book explains the life-cycle clearly. We'll have the tadpoles for several more weeks – hooray! The Frog Book has also settled a minor family dispute. I call the current state of the critters "tadpoles" while my father calls them "polliwogs." On the sidelines are T and my mom, who both want to know who is right. I guess my only complaint about The Frog Book is that "tadpoles" and "polliwogs" are both acceptable terms for the post-egg stage. I so wanted to be right!

Not only were our life-cycle questions answered, but my frog/toad quandary was resolved as well. Readers learn what makes a frog a frog at the start of the book. The following two-page spread explains what makes a toad different from a frog. The distinction is clear
and easy for a 4 year old or a 35 year old to understand. Before reading, I did know frogs were water and toads were land critters – I wasn't totally clueless.  Now T and I are both clear on the difference, and so is T's dad. When he popped in to see what T was learning, T explained how you can tell a frog and toad apart. T also told me that he already knew, because he reads the Frog and Toad books.

Although I characterize The Frog Book as basic, I would not dismiss it for frog enthusiasts. In addition to the introduction to life cycle, defense, etc., extreme frogs such as the smallest frog and the loudest frog are included, as are other fascinating frog facts. The Darwin's frog, for example, protects his mate's eggs in his vocal sac until the babies are ready to "clamber out." The book ends with the current state of frogs. The tone and the recent extinctions will likely inspire a desire to protect frogs. T again wants to become a scientist in order to do so. His path is Dr. Frankenstein-inspired. We have a budding literary environmentalist.

Son's Review
(Age: 4)
Son: Let me show you my favorites. This one and this one and...

Mom: Why are those your favorites?

endpaper
What do you think it is?

Son: Because they look kinda cute and kinda scary and kind of alienish. And batarang shaped. Those are all of my favorite frogs.

Dad, as we open the book: That is cool endpaper.

Mom: Yeah. Do you think it is frogs or do you think it is water?

Son: I think you are right. Frogs and water and tadpoles. That's what I think. Or lily leaves, what frogs like to sit on.

Son, pointing out frogs on the first page: You can barely see it! All of the frogs on this page is my other favorites.

Mom: If you discovered a new kind of frog, what would you name it?

Son: I would just put it in a frog tank, and I would name it Peeko-pa-peeko...

Mom: What do you already know about frogs?

Son: That they eat bugs!

Mom: Do you want to be a herpetologist?

Son: No, when I'm a grown-up, I'm gonna be a scientist. Um, I mean a creator. And I'm only gonna create one thing. That is a monster. It's going to be alive.

Mom: That sounds kind of like Dr. Frankenstein.

Mom: We learned a lot about the frog's body. What do you think is the most interesting?

Son: The egg part.

Dad: What has an egg? Why?

Son: Frog. Because it's the kind of animal that makes 'em.

Dad: I'll tell you what I know about frogs. Frogs have fur!

Son: No they don't!...They don't drink water. Water goes through their skin...I know about toads from my books Toad and Frog [sic].

Mom, pointing to a toad: Is that a frog? Why?

Son: No. It's bigger than a frog.

Mom: It has a shorter, stouter body. Who lives closer to water?

Son: Frog!

Mom: What do you think of the frog that carries its babies in the mouth?

Son: That's so silly!... [points to eggs on a frog's back] That's the guy's farts!

Mom: No it's not. It's his babies! If you were a daddy frog, would you want to carry your babies in your mouth, or on your back, or wrap them around your legs?

Son: Wrap 'em around my legs.

Mom: Whoah. Look at this frog. That's a desert rain frog. It lives on the sand!

Son: Really cool! I wish I had a pet like that. What if I caught him and thought he was a ball?

Mom, at end of book: It makes me sad that frogs are dying.

Son: When I'm a grownup I'm gonna rescue frogs and make a monster that can rescue frogs.

Pointing out his favorite frogs on the back cover.
Each one is his favorite for a different reason!