Illustrator: Gennady Spirin
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co. (February 5, 2013)
Source: Personal Copy
Audience: Ages 4 to 8
Nonfiction * Frogs * Habitats/Behavior
Description from GoodReads:
Since the time of the dinosaurs, frogs have added their birrups and bellows to the music of the earth. Frogs are astonishing in their variety and crucial to ecosystems. Onomatopoeic text and stunning illustrations introduce young readers to these fascinating and important creatures, from Chile to Nepal to Australia.
My thoughts on the book:
The team of Guiberson and Spirin have partnered to create a beautiful book about various frog species.
"Frogs have a song for trees, bogs, burrows, and logs. When frogs have enough moisture to keep gooey eggs, squirmy tadpoles, and hoppity adults from drying out, they can sign almost anywhere. CROAK! RIBBIT! BZZZT! PLONK! BRACK! THRUM-RUM!"
Guiberson goes on to talk about 11 different frogs in various countries. Sometimes the focus is on child-bearing behaviors and other times about how they co-exist in a delicate balance with other creatures. Regardless of the particular focus on the page, each frog species has a unique song which has meaning and purpose. Frog Song, in a way, is Guiberson's ballad to the health and survival of frog in a world where the existence of humans has in many places thrown off the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Spirin's paintings are stunning and give the impression of almost being so real that if you are still enough you may just see a frog jump off the page. The end of the book contains additional information on each of the 11 frog species, additional resources, and an author's note about the survival of frogs. Definitely a book to add to any classroom or school library collection.
Check out the Macmillan Publisher's page for a preview of the pages.
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