Review by Booklist Review
This informational picture book features an assortment of unusual frogs indigenous to Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America. Distinct among Jenkins' curious list of amphibians are the world's largest (Goliath) and smallest (from Papua New Guinea), a pointy-nose variety (Darwin's frog) that carries tadpoles in a pouch located in its throat, a flying frog that floats in the air as it jumps from tree to tree, and a hairy frog that doesn't have any real hair. Yet out of the whole frog collection, Jenkins shares that his favorite is the medium-size, greeny-brown one that sits on a lily pad in his backyard pond. Unique to Jenkins and Hopgood's collaboration is the book's design. Wonderfully sprinkled throughout, Hopgood's vibrant, eye-catching mixed-media renditions of frogs in mottled, earthy hues aptly complement Jenkins' accompanying narrative. Ideal for a wide range of early elementary students, the simple sentences appear in large fonts for younger readers, while smaller fonts contain additional amphibian facts for the older sector. Includes a kid-friendly index and great websites for further research.--Lock, Anita Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Jenkins (The History of Money) presents a light, off-handed overview of species of frogs from around the world, accompanied by vivid mixed-media illustrations from Hopgood (Hooray for Hoppy!). The main text explores the outstanding features of roughly a dozen frogs ("This one is called a flying frog, although it can't really fly"), while supplemental sentences give additional details about the amphibians. Hopgood's compositions vary in their use of space, scale, and style: thumbnail-size frogs from Papua New Guinea, the smallest known to exist, dot one white spread (and go unnamed, perhaps because Paedophryne amauensis is a mouthful), while Australia's striped rocket frog leaps from one spread to the next, mid-introduction. Ages 5-8. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Jenkins and Hopgood team up to share their zeal for frogs in this attractively packaged showcase of different species. Western Africa's goliath frog, Australia's striped rocket frog, and Southeast Asia's flying frog are among the animals represented in this worthy informational picture book. A concise introduction on behavior and development precedes the title page. Each page features large, simple, though at times repetitive, narrative, as well as text rendered in a smaller font that goes into slightly more detail and eye-popping mixed-media artwork. Hopgood's visuals are populated with active frogs. Backgrounds are blue, green, orange, and yellow; a few illustrations include environmental details such as branches and leaves. Clusters of eggs and swimming tadpoles fill the endpapers and add to the appeal. Those looking for more information on these animals can turn to Jim Arnosky's All About Frogs (Scholastic, 2002), Peter Murray's Frogs (Child's World, 2007), or Seymour Simon's Frogs (HarperCollins, 2015), which feature color photos and are aimed at slightly older students. VERDICT A strong choice for group storytimes or science lessons, this volume will spark children's interest.-Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Jenkins shares his fascination with the many sizes, shapes, and features of frogs in this survey of frog species. The selections were made based on what struck the authors fancy: frogs that are noisy, large, or small; those with funky features like pointy noses and colorful markings; and those that make nests of foam or hold eggs in their throat. My favorite frog of all is the medium-size, greeny-brown one that sits on a lily pad in my backyard pond! The main text -- This frog is huge (for a frog) -- is supplemented by additional facts in smaller type (Its a goliath frog, and it lives in western Africa) that invite readers to learn more about these amphibians. Hopgoods colorful, creative mixed-media illustrations of frogs, sometimes accompanied by hints of the surrounding environment, sometimes isolated on a white background, are technically precise in representing the main features of each species yet artistic in the rendering of textures and anatomical details. danielle j. ford (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An overview of the fantastic variety found among the over 5,000 frog species of the world. Jenkins opens with a pre-copyright page summary of frog facts: they are carnivores, most of whom hop or jump, that do some of their breathing through their skin and are mostly found where it is warm and damp; almost all lay eggs and go through a tadpole stage (the word "metamorphosis" is not used). The primary text goes on to point out some of the tremendous variety in the genus in text that both echoes the topic (the goliath frog's page says simply "This frog is huge (for a frog)," and the word "huge" is large on the page) and splits between simple sentences for younger audiences and a smaller-font paragraph of further info for older listeners. Other attributes highlighted include miniscule size, a strange nose, ability to jump far quickly, noisy, and "hairiness," among others. Other frogs are notable for their actionsthe male Darwin's frog keeps its babies in a pouch in its throat, for example. Hopgood's mixed-media artwork is rich in greens and browns and full of splattery textures, especially the frogs. Most frog books focus on life cycle; this one nicely highlights diversity instead. (Nonfiction picture book 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
