A Child Is a Child [Hardcover]

Brigitte Weninger (Author), Eve Tharlet (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 7, 2004 | Age Level: 2 and up

When Mama Frog and Father Frog disappear, two little frog children are left all alone. Blackbird, Mole and Hedgehog would all like to help, but no one knows how. When Mama Mouse shows up and agrees to take them in, she simply says, "A child is a child, and all children need a place to live and play, good food, and someone who loves them."
So all the animals pitch in to help, doing what each does best. Hedgehog gathers worms to eat, Mole digs a bedroom, and Blackbird fetches a water pail for their bath. Everyone gets into the act, and Mama Mouse proves that if at first glance we may seem to be very different, in the end we're not so different at all!
Perfect for preschools and kindergartens, this charming tale has a universal message, expertly brough to life by the team that produced the popular Davy books.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreS - This picture book begins with a frightening premise: Daddy Frog doesn't come home and when Mama Frog sets out to find him, she, too, never returns. The two baby frogs are left alone and cowering on their lily pad. After some discussion, they are adopted by Mama Mouse. Mr. Mole, Mr. Hedgehog, and Mrs. Blackbird do their part to assist the adoptive mother (who already has five children of her own) and everyone lives happily ever after. Tharlet's exquisite watercolor illustrations are the star of this title. Her animals are sweet, funny, and endearing as they cavort across the pages. She uses layers of color to create an appearance of texture, and her delicate shades provide a range of expressions for the little creatures. Unfortunately, the artwork doesn't rescue the story. Mama Mouse's simplistic statement that "A child is a child" (despite being of a different species) is a meaningless truism. To preschoolers, the idea that parents might not come home is terrifying, and this tale makes an unnecessary introduction to the fear of abandonment. In addition, it trivializes the anguish of losing a loved one. - Jane Barrer, Washington Square Village Creative Steps, New York City
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About the Author

Brigitte Weninger lives in Austria.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Minedition; First Edition edition (October 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698400062
• ISBN-13: 978-0698400061
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,246,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars harsh view of adoption, June 6, 2008

By 

emma edwards (florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Child Is a Child (Hardcover)

As an adoptive parent, I am always on the lookout for good books to read to my children. This book did not make the list. The book begins with the unexplained abandonment of the young frog children. A few of the nearby animals pity the poor frogs, but feel that they do not want to care for the young ones. That is, until the mouse comes and rescues the frog who need a parent because "a child is a child" and every child only needs love.

My primary issue with this book is that it presents adoption as rescue. I know from experience that I did not rescue my children, despite their time in an orphanage. My husband and I did not "save" our children. We wanted a family that would laugh and play with us. We chose them, and I would not want them think that we took them in as a last resort because they weren't wanted by anybody else.

Although most children's books about adoption are relatively simplistic (which is understandable because of the target audience), this book is shallow. There is no mention of how the sudden transition affected the frogs which might help adopted children understand their feelings. In addition, there is also no real discussion of the interracial issues facing the now integrated family, which I had hoped would be the theme of the book.

There are several books that better address adoption--in a way that affirms a child's feelings of love and belonging. Avoid this one.