The Frog Princess: A Tlingit Legend from Alaska [Hardcover]

Eric A. Kimmel (Author, Narrator), Rosanne Litzinger (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2006 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Many men begin to flock to the Tlingit village hoping to make the headman's beautiful daughter their bride, then retreat in disgrace as none is ever good enough for her. Weary of the suitors and their presents, she proclaims that she's sooner marry a frog from the lake than any of the men after her heart. One night soon after, a very handsome young man--with slightly bulging eyes--appears on her threshold to fulfill her words, and she follows him underwater to her new home amongst the Frog People. But her peace is interrupted when her parents demand her return to the village, and the maiden finds herself caught in a clash between the worlds of land and sea. In Kimmel's captivating retelling of the Tlingit legend, with breathtaking illustrations by Rosanne Litzinger, a maiden struggles to find the place where she truly belongs.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4–In this variant of a Tlingit legend, the headman's beautiful daughter rejects all suitors, proclaiming to one who has slightly bulging eyes, Why I would sooner marry a frog from our lake! That night, a handsome stranger with slightly bulging eyes and long fingers leads her down a row of steps under the lake surface to join the Frog People. The rest of the story relates how her parents try to get her back. Bright swaths of watercolors illuminate the landscapes and backgrounds. The blankets that the Native People wear are mostly a solid color, although, historically, the Chilkat blanket had long fringes and was adorned with abstract designs and animal patterns that represented either the raven or eagle clan, or a family. The chief has a full beard that looks more typical of a Viking, and his skin color varies, even within an individual depiction of his face. An additional purchase.–Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. In Kimmel's retelling of a Tlingit tale, a village headman's beautiful daughter rejects all her potential suitors: "I would sooner marry a frog from our lake," she tells one unfortunate hopeful. Then comes a young man whom she finds irresistibly handsome, despite his bulging eyes. The suitor belongs to the Frog People, and the enamored girl follows him to his underwater kingdom and happily marries. Her bereft parents threaten the frogs until their daughter is returned, but the girl misses her husband and goes back to his watery world. The story (which may be too long for sharing at one sitting) is gracefully told, and preschoolers will enjoy the shape-shifting magic and cultural details, which are extended in the uncluttered paintings of villagers in Tlingit costume. Still, it's older children (and teens) who will relate most to the parental intolerance for boundary crossing: "It is unnatural for a human girl to live among frogs. They must marry their own kind and so must you." Suggest this for discussions with a wide age group. Source notes are appended. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (April 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823416186
• ISBN-13: 978-0823416189
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 11.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #421,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric A. Kimmel is well known for the tales he has retold from around the world. Some of his best-known titles are "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" (a Caldecott Honor book), "Gershon's Monster", "Anansi and the Talking Melon", and "The Runaway Tortilla". A former professor of children's literature, he lives in Portland, Oregon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for all parents and young readers for its creative story telling and superb illustrations, July 13, 2006

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Frog Princess: A Tlingit Legend from Alaska (Hardcover)

Expertly retold by Eric A. Kimmel and beautifully illustrated by Rosanne Litzger, The Frog Princess: A Tlingit Legend From Alaska is the evocative Alaskan folktale of a young maiden princess of a Tlingit village whose heart is pursued by many different suitors, but none of them are regarded with any romantic interest by her. The Frog Princess carries young readers through the impressively pictured story of the young maiden's interest in the Frog People and her heart-warming struggle to discover where her true home is, as well as dealing with the greatest life-changing decision she's ever faced. An ideal addition to school and community "Myth, Fairytale & Folklore" picturebook collections, The Frog Princess is very highly recommended for all parents and young readers for its creative story telling and superb illustrations.