Froggie Went A-Courting [Paperback]

Chris Conover (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1988

Illustrates the well-known American folk song about the courtship and marriage of the frog and the mouse. Music is included at the end.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Readers will find the story of Froggie's romance both unusual and fun. The author has chosen to illustrate this Old English nursery rhyme in Elizabethan fashion, with charming results. Froggie, dressed in a red livery coat and plumed hat, sets out in a coach pulled by caterpillars to win Miss Mousie's hand. His proposal accepted, the preparations begin: within Miss Mousie's home, attendants busily alter the bridal gown, make jam and bake pies while Froggie joins Uncle Rat in the billiard room. The festive wedding includes "two fat bees bouncing banjos on their knees," and a big tom cat who causes a stir. The newlyweds depart by moonlight in a coach pulled by golden butterflies. There are many small details throughout that children will enjoy discovering; music and text are included.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2 If one agrees that there will be only one acceptable version of the ballad of Froggie and Miss Mouse, and that version is by Randolph Caldecott, then there is no point in considering any others. Conover's version does use some of the Caldecott conventions: a theatrical presentation, observant humans, and the Rowley refrain. She, however, sends Frog and Mousie happily-ever-aftering to France for a honeymoon. Conover's illustrations are fanciful, and very funny. Her presentation seems to be England, 1775, according to the truly gorgeous endpapers. England may well be famous for being green, but Conover cannot mean this green: it makes the page, because it is set in a garden, almost visually impenetrable. Squinting past the intensity, viewers can find a wealth of detail. So much so, in fact, that the illustration takes over and propels the book right alongthe verse becomes mere decoration. As a vehicle for Conover's imagination, the book is very successful, even a tour de force. But as a version of that much-loved song, it isn't. Conover has caught the spirit of the song, but let the words become superfluous. This is musical without being lyrical. Christina Olson, Beverly Hills Public Library
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 31 pages
• Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux (J) (October 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374424748
• ISBN-13: 978-0374424749
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,498,148 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent book for children, June 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Froggie Went A-Courting (Paperback)

I am 23 years old and I enjoyed this story when I was a child on my "Magic Media Talking Book". This is a book all children will love.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading fun, October 3, 2006

By 

Tat "page turner" (Richmond, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Froggie Went-A-Courting (Hardcover)

I had so many of these books when I was a child and I loved EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF THEM. From the opening song to final page. I still have a good number of my originals, but I am not giving them up to anyone so I would love to find these upgraded to CD or cassette tape so I could buy them for my Godchildren and children. This was just great fun for me, and almost 22 years later I remember the songs and the stories like I just read them.