Frog and Friends (Frog and Friends Series #1)

by Eve Bunting, Josée Masse (Illustrator)

Overview

Welcome to Frog and his world. He enjoys nothing better than spending time floating in his pond or visiting with his friends. He appreciates the simpler things in life and would prefer that things stay just the way they are - nice and peaceful. From acclaimed children's writer Eve Bunting comes a new beginning reader series featuring the delightful Frog and his friends Rabbit, Possum, Raccoon, and Squirrel. In the first book Frog is alarmed when he finds a strange object in his pond, he tries to re-gift a scarf, and he makes friends with a runaway hippo. In Party at the Pond Frog is busy with his autumn party, he is overseen dancing around the pond, and he narrowly escapes being turned into a prince. Retro-style artwork by illustrator Josée Masse gives a fresh, distinctive look to this new series.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781585366897
Publisher:	Sleeping Bear Press
Publication date:	07/21/2011
Series:	I Am a Reader!: Frog and Friends Series , #1
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

Editorial Reviews

Gr 1–2—This clever beginning reader is divided into three chapters. Frog and his friends tackle an unsolved mystery involving a balloon (or possibly a hippopotamus egg), discover the amazing cycle of regifting, and learn the social graces for managing uninvited houseguests. Repetition, white space, and a large font help prepare children for tackling a smattering of more challenging vocabulary. Bright cartoon illustrations provide some picture clues. Readers will enjoy feeling superior to Frog and his friends, who never manage to identify the orange balloon that lands in the pond. The story comes full circle in the third chapter when a hippopotamus actually does visit the pond and Frog worries that it has come for its egg—which they accidentally killed (popped). A fun addition to early-reader sections.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

School Library Journal

Frog and his friends Rabbit, Possum, Raccoon and Squirrel tickle funny bones, explore the world, solve problems and support each other in this trio of stories.

In the first, Frog calls his friends to see the strange orange object he finds. Their guesses as to what it might be are certain to keep readers in stitches. In the second, Raccoon's gift of a scarf to the neckless Frog turns out to be not-so-perfect until a helping hand steps in. In the last story, a runaway zoo hippo who wants to see the world takes up every inch of space in the pond. Frog cleverly finds a way to get Hippo to appreciate the life he left behind so that he can have his pond back. Masse's brilliantly colored cartoon illustrations capture both the forest pond that is Frog's home as well as the personalities of each character—the rather protective mother Possum is depicted with a lacey collar, and Raccoon sports a natty poncho.

Here's to many more adventures for Frog and his friends, who are sure to go home with fans of Fluffy and Morris. (Early reader. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews