Beware of the Frog [Hardcover]

William Bee (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: June 24, 2008 | Age Range: 3 - 7 years | Lexile Measure: 630L (What's this?)

With deliciously ugly villains and a gasp-inducing ending, this quirky tale of the unexpected will have readers croaking with laughter.

Sweet old Mrs. Collywobbles lives on the edge of a big, dark, scary wood, so it’s a good thing that she has a pet frog to protect her. Too bad for the Greedy Goblin, the Smelly Troll, and the Giant Hungry Ogre, who don’t take this little amphibian seriously (GOBBLE)!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–4—This is a quirky story in which an old woman who lives alone at the edge of a dark, scary wood is protected by her pet frog. The creature easily handles any danger by swallowing each potential evildoer whole. The first villain to meet his fate is Greedy Goblin, followed by Smelly Troll, and finally Giant Hungry Ogre. As each bad guy nears Mrs. Collywobbles's house, he recites a rhyme themed around his distinct characteristics. "Nickerty-noo, nickerty-noo,/if I get a chance,/I'll steal from you," sings Greedy Goblin. The tale ends with a wicked twist. The narration and illustrations are joined tightly together. The text describes the scene in the pictures, pointing out specific things to notice. "Look! There is little Mrs. Collywobbles, hiding in her bathroom." The pen-and-ink and Macintosh artwork statically captures the "action" and creatively portrays each character. As he gobbles each villain, the frog sits passively with the feet, tail, and clothes of his victim hanging out of his mouth. Bright, flat colors contrast sharply against the white background. Stylized flowers and leaves give the pictures a 1960s look. The odd deadpan humor will not appeal to every child, but older readers and literature students will appreciate the irony of this almost fairy tale.—Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
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Review

"* "The illustrations have a quirky, nostalgic feel, while repetition and onomatopoeic language grows to a cacophony of sound... A great read-aloud book." Junior on And the Train Goes... (9781406301670) * "A delightful cautionary tale." The Sunday Telegraph on Whatever (9781406301335)" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Age Range: 3 - 7 years
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (June 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763639206
• ISBN-13: 978-0763639204
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 0.4 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #681,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book! September 8, 2009

By J. Doyle

Format:Paperback

I'm not sure I agree with others that this isn't for a younger audience. My son is 2 1/2 and LOVES this book. He actually looks forward to the "gobble" pages.

We've also discovered there's a hidden snail drawn into every page spread. Can you find them all?

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This was a quaint and funny little story that is sure to elicit lots of giggles from the little ones! GOBBLE! GOBBLE! October 16, 2009

By D. Fowler TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Mrs. Collywobbles lived in a little stone house "one the edge of a big, dark, scary wood." She wore a very colorful outfit complete with a string of pearls. She had a cute little red purse and an umbrella that would keep the raindrops off her head, but it couldn't keep her safe from all those scary critters in the woods. The only thing that could help her was her pet frog that sat on a mat on her stoop. Mrs. Collywobbles peered out of her kitchen window and looked a bit frightened when she saw the thieving Greedy Goblin emerging from the woods.

"Nickerty-noo, nickerty-noo, if I get a chance, I'll steal from you . . . " The Goblin was a scary looking thing with a yellow pointy nose, ears and yucky looking toes. Not to worry because the little pet frog went "GOBBLE" and about the only thing you could see was one of those yucky feet. SLURP! Well, Mrs. Collywobbles moved upstairs to the bathroom and when she peered out she saw a blue Smelly Troll coming out of the woods. Now he was really stinky. Pee yew! "Welly-welly, welly-welly, I'm awfully slimy and awfully smelly . . . " On the garden gate he saw the sign warning him about that a frog, but do you think he paid any attention?

This was a quaint and funny little story that is sure to elicit lots of giggles from the little ones. Dark, scary woods, goblins, trolls and things like ogres are usually things to be afraid of, but in this book the silly and colorful artwork makes them harmless and downright goofy looking. When the frog GOBBLES them up with a big slurp, your youngster is bound to laugh, especially if you use and exaggerated and expressive tone of voice. The little twist at the end makes it a `sure to please' story. If you're looking for a silly, but fun yarn, this one might strike your fancy!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Basic Story, Could Have Had Better Illustrations March 28, 2012

By James N Simpson

Format:Hardcover

This is a good basic story, with a bit of a controversial ending. An old lady lives alone and a frog who lives on her front doorstep protects her from those who wish to annoy or cause her physical harm. Those intruders all laugh at the Beware of Frog Warning, it is a deadly mistake on their part. Not sure what the whole point of the ending is though, seems a bit ungrateful and spiteful on the old lady's behalf.

Illustrations are a bit average, especially the visitors who come to harm the old lady. The old lady is drawn very South Park character style. I did like the frog though.