Customer Reviews

Frog Goes to Dinner (Boy, Dog, Frog)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book is as enjoyable when you're 33 as when your 3. I was cleaning a closet and found my original version from '77 and had to sit down (or fall down laughing) to "read" it. The illustrations are definately worth more than a thousand words. Frog's good time is only deterred by the evil looks cast at him by the family. We've all been there. It is amazing the feeling that animation can evoke. "Oh to be that frog".....After enjoying it to the fullest I ordered it for all the kids on my Christmas list from 2 to 102 that I felt would appreciate it. And of course Amazon delivered them on time.

As a mom of two emerging readers (one 3, one 5) I have done alot of research into how children learn to read and this summer I am in hot pursuit of books that will help them practice.

One of the key skills that appears over and over in the literature is the ability to get 'clues' as to what is going on in the story from the pictures that accompany the text. This is one of the reasons I like this book. Without words, it allows my youngsters to practice their pre-reading skills of analyzing and interpreting what pictures mean.

The other reason, of course, is that this book is simply delightful. The drawings are detailed and funny and they keep my children coming back for more. A cute addition for a family's bookshelves.

[Don't forget to check out Tomie dePaola's wordless books as well.]

Good Reading reference books: "Reading Magic" by Mem Fox; " Raising Lifelong Learners" by Lucy McCormick; and the comprehensive if more cumbersome, "Beginning to Read: Thinking and Learning about Print" by Marilyn Jager Adams.

Pam T~
mom and reviewer for BooksForKids-reviews

This is an excellent book for teachers to have- can work with prediction (what will happen next?) and creative writing (older students may write their own "text" for the illustrations).

Beautiful illustrations and very humorous!

As a mom of two emerging readers (one 3, one 5) I have done a lot of research into how children learn to read and this summer I am in hot pursuit of books that will help them practice.

One of the key skills that appears over and over in the literature is the ability to get 'clues' as to what is going on in the story from the pictures that accompany the text. This is one of the reasons I like this book. Without words, it allows my youngsters to practice their pre-reading skills of analyzing and interpreting what pictures mean.

The other reason, of course, is that this book is simply delightful. The drawings are detailed and funny and they keep my children coming back for more. A cute addition for a family's bookshelves.

[Don't forget to check out Tomie dePaola's wordless books as well.]

Good Reading reference books: "Reading Magic" by Mem Fox; " Raising Lifelong Learners" by Lucy McCormick; and the comprehensive if more cumbersome, "Beginning to Read: Thinking and Learning about Print" by Marilyn Jager Adams.

Pam T~
mom and reviewer for BooksForKids-reviews

Frog Goes to Dinner is a hilarious story that will engage language learners of all levels. The interesting plot line allows for practice of vocabulary and sentence structures used in the context of "going to a restaurant". This topic is of course useful at the beginning stages of language learning. A fun resource for use by teachers and students both.

Mercer Mayer's series of books are not only great for Children who are beginning to speak, they are also fantastic tools for language learning. Wordless books allow a language learner and their language helper to learn vocabulary and construct stories together in the target language. It is great for vocabulary consolidation, grammar development, and the development of storytelling skills.

I use this well-"written" book in speech and language intervention--assessment and treatment. The monochromatic illustrations are excellent, bringing to life the very funny story. Wordless books in general are great for language therapy, because the child is able to practice generating a narrative, with visual support. This one in particular is useful, because the story is tight and unambiguous. I highly recommend all of the Boy/Dog/Frog series, especially this one and "A Boy, a Dog, a Frog, and a Friend."

This wordless picture book is great fun, especially the frog's expressions. Even though there are no words, you can still follow the plot easily and even pay more attention to the characters' expressions. I definitely recommend this book!

Frog Goes to Dinner was a big hit in my class. The book has no text so it leaves a lot to the child's imagination. The pictures tell it all. The children made up their own names and were able to retell the story with ease. I would like to have a big book version in my class.

Clever story, clearly told with pictures alone. Great for young children to enjoy with adults or by themselves.

This is a series of funny wordless books about a boy and his pet frog, drawn lovingly in pencil. In this episode, the boy and his family are going to dinner at a fancy restaurant. The frog stows away in the boy's pocket, and while the family is ordering jumps out and begins to wreak havoc among the other diners. When it is caught, the boy claims it and the family is thrown out of the restaurant. The boy is sent to his room, where he plays happily with the frog.

His lack of penitence at having caused his family such trouble might be concerning to some parents, and the parental anger is far more concerning (although the wordless genre allows for adult interpretation of what was said), especially since the boy did not intend to bring the frog to the restaurant. However, this lighthearted fantasy portrays a bit of real human nature, allowing children to think about what different people are feeling in different scenes. It provides an example of what not to do in a restaurant, and might be a means of preparing a young reader for the experience. There are opportunities to discuss consideration of others, self-control, and table manners. This is a funny library checkout but perhaps shouldn't live on the free-reading shelf.