Cesar's Amazing Journey [Hardcover]

Stephen Philip Policoff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999 | Age Level: 4 and up

Can Cesar the tree frog find a warm home in the big city?

When Cesar the tree frog is forcibly removed from his home in the tropical wetlands, and relocated to the streets of New York City, he's in for the adventure of a lifetime. With B. Cider, a friendly spider, Cesar takes in the sights and sounds of the city, enjoying each glitzy moment as only a tree frog can--but soon our hero discovers that he's cold and that he misses his leaf. What's a poor tree frog to do?

With zany illustrations by David Catrow, Cesar's Amazing Journey will tickle the funny bone and have readers cheering for the little tree frog who finally finds the home he's been missing.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Cesar, a musical tree frog, is a happy inhabitant of the Florida wetlands until his tree is uprooted and put on a truck headed for New York City. So begins the amazing journey that he shares with an upbeat, rhyming arachnid named B. Cider, as in "Along came a spider and sat down... B. Cider!" Cesar, frightened and despondent, fears the big city but his new pal is an enthusiastic urbanite. From FAO Schwarz to Times Square to the Circle Line around Manhattan, they travel by bicycle, subway, and tourist bus at a frantic pace. The colder northern climate makes Cesar ill, but with the help of a kind little girl, he gets medical treatment and finds a new home in the rain-forest exhibit at the zoo. Policoff's story is original and well paced, though it may be a bit slick for younger children, who will need some explanation of the jokes. Older readers, however, will find the antics of B. Cider and Cesar hilarious. Catrow's illustrations are brazenly cartoonish-almost caricatures. Still, the little frog remains sympathetically endearing, and the pictures are well suited to the frenzy of the text. The colors and sights of the big city are beautifully captured as well. An unusual, humorous, fast-paced read-aloud.
Barbara Buckley, Jericho Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

B. Cider and Cesar's antics are hilarious. An unusual, humorous, fast paced read aloud. -- School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile; 1ST edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670887536
• ISBN-13: 978-0670887538
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,638,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic, original book, July 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cesar's Amazing Journey (Hardcover)

My daugther, 5, loves listening to this story, and we love reading it to her. It's the story of a Cuban tree frog happily living in the Everglades, who suddenly finds himself exploring the sites of New York City yet missing his home terribly. The story is beautifully told, the text lively and well written, the kind of prose that works for kids AND adults. The illustrations are great, too.

4.0 out of 5 stars Our fourth grade review - 4N, November 2, 2009

By 

Winston (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cesar's Amazing Journey (Hardcover)

In the adventurous story, Cesar's Amazing Journey by Stephen Philip Policoff, a little tree frog named Cesar meets a hilarious rhyming spider when he is carried away from his quaint, cozy, peaceful wetland to an enormous, frigid, noisy city. What exciting and worrisome adventures will Cesar and his spider friend encounter while looking for a place to call home? This cheerful book that includes fantastic dialogue and fascinating illustrations is recommended for anyone who likes humorous and adventurous tales.