Frog Went A-Courting: A Musical Play in Six Acts with Other [Hardcover]

Dominic Catalano (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A retelling of the traditional Appalachian folk song with Frog and Miss Mouse set in seventeenth-century Scotland.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Catalano (illustrator of Sleeping Beauty) serves up this familiar folk song with a splash of whimsy, setting it in its native Scotland as a stage musical. Decked out in kilt and sporran, his bagpipes tucked under his arm, Frog cuts a fine figure as he sets off with his faithful drummer atop a saddled duck to woo the fair Miss Mouse. Things progress swiftly; Frog secures Uncle Rat's consent and wedding preparations are soon underway. After the festivities, the happy couple heads "off to France./ So ends our story but starts their romance." It's a straightforward retelling, with the real fun residing in the illustrations: droll touches include wedding guests divided into frogs for the groom's side, mice for the bride; a disgruntled kitty who lurks in the background, then makes off with the bagpipes; and, on the ship bound for France, a figurehead that looks like a cross between Kermit the Frog and the Little Mermaid. Catalano adheres to the theatrical theme throughout, presenting six "acts" (i.e., verses) opening with black-and-white sketches of the stage production, complete with props and actors, then following up with full-bleed pastels that flesh out the action. Skillfully shaded and blended, the artwork has a textured look that transforms horizontal perspectives into dramatic backdrops. The subplot with the bagpipes has a satisfying ending, too?as a wedding present, Frog receives a saxophone from his blushing bride. A simple arrangement of the song, complete with guitar chords, sounds the closing notes to this buoyant musical. Ages 4-6.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-An inventive twist on the now-familiar technique of retelling a folk song in picture-book form. Lush watercolors show richly costumed characters while bordered text allow the lyrics of the song to tell the story. Interspersed throughout are some pencil sketches that show the "stage" version of this story. However, the rich watercolors take center stage here as Frog, a handsome and debonair fellow, is natty in green coat, plaid kilt, and black shiny boots. Miss Mouse is a blushing maiden in a gold-belted green dress with high collar and white puffy sleeves. Uncle Rat is lord of the manor who takes time from his beloved golf to peer over his spectacles and give his consent to the union. As the story progresses and the wedding takes place, each verse of the song is another "act" of the play with more characters introduced. Filled with details and plenty of references to the song's Scottish roots, this retelling brings "Froggy" to life, celebrating its heritage, characters, and inherent romance. A joyous musical treat.
Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press; 1st edition (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563976374
• ISBN-13: 978-1563976377
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,445,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relieved to find this fun, fun book!, October 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Frog Went A-Courting: A Musical Play in Six Acts with Other (Hardcover)

...Our two and a half year-old daughter remained captivated by this book for weeks. Reading this book over and over again is not monotonous like some children's books since you can sing it, read it, or tell the story by the pictures. The colorful, detailed illustrations kept her interest in the wedding ceremony, which she is learning is a special, yet common, tradition. It was also fun to hear her sing the story in her own version. This book is a wonderful change from the ordinary and will give your child an opportunity to appreciate music, rhyme, drama, and visual art, all with the charm of a seventeenth century Scottish courtship and marriage.