Sunday, September 28, 2014

Frog Song by Brenda Z. Guiberson -- ESSENTIAL

Guiberson, Brenda Z. Frog Song, illustrated by Gennady Spirin. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt & Co., 2013. $17.99. Content: G.

Frog Song describes the lives of eleven different kinds of frogs and toads, from their croaks and bellows, to their habitats, to their birthing methods. (The male Darwin's frog, for example, carries its tadpoles in its vocal sacs for seven weeks as they grow.) A note in the back gives more detail about the types profiled in the book, followed by a call to action, a bibliography, and a list of websites for those who wish to research further.

The artwork is gorgeous, the individual songs -- phonetically described on each profile -- are fun to imitate, and the descriptions of the frogs are absolutely fascinating. Honestly, I had no idea how interesting frogs could be until I read Frog Song. This book is fun for browsing, but it would also be a good addition to a science class or an Earth Day celebration. It would also be helpful for research projects.

EL, MS -- ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Caryn

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