Frogs [Hardcover]

James Martin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Think you know all there is to know about frogs? Acclaimed author James Martin will make you think again in this fascinating look at the ever-popular amphibian. Martin deftly details all the froggy facts--their amazing metamorphosis from tadpole to frog, what it means to be an amphibian--but then he delves deeper, giving readers a reason to care about frogs. Frogs are among the Earth's oldest creatures, dating back 190 million years. Because of their remarkable ability to adapt to different climates and habitats, frogs are what scientists call an indicator species: By monitoring how frogs are doing, we can get a sense of the health of our planet. And lately frogs have been dying out at drastic rates. Loaded with fabulous color photographs from Art Wolfe, Frogs is a beautiful, informative, and thought-provoking introduction to a creature many of us can find in our own backyards.  

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6?A fresh look at frogs is offered in this cogent introduction. The text conveys the nature of these slimy-skinned amphibians through succinct descriptions of physical characteristics common to all; special characteristics of unusual species; methods of locomotion; metamorphosis; mating behavior; care of young; defense mechanisms; and hibernation. Over two dozen frog species are discussed (plus a couple of toads); the majority are found in Central and South America. Outstanding full-color photographs appear on nearly every page. The photos are extraordinarily good, with imaginative composition and remarkable clarity. Picture captions identify species by both their common and scientific names. The lively, well-organized text is sprinkled with intriguing details not found in other titles. The average size of the species is not given, but this is a minor omission. Elizabeth Lacey's The Complete Frog (Lothrop, 1989) and D. M. Souza's Frogs, Frogs Everywhere (Carolrhoda, 1994) are two good general introductions that offer more information on metamorphosis than Martin's book. As Martin focuses on exotic frogs, most of which are not covered in other titles, and boasts exceptional photography, it will be a valuable addition to most collections.?Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

The full-color photographs in this work pay gleaming, glistening homage to the frog, who survived for millions of years after the dinosaurs, only to be endangered by manmade pollutants today. Martin and Wolfe (Hiding Out, 1993, etc.) include startling examples of frogs' adaptations to climate and habitat. There are the white spotted burrowing frogs of Australia, which stay underground in desert climates for up to seven years, emerging only when it rains, and wood frogs, which allow themselves to freeze in winter, miraculously thawing out in spring. Wolfe includes a rainbow of brightly colored poisonous dart frogs, as well as several views of camouflaged frogs (which readers must find). The only frustration--a minor one--is that some intriguing frogs mentioned in the text are not represented in the pictures. Otherwise, this is a convincing testament to unique creatures and their increasingly threatening environment. (Picture book. 7-10) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (November 11, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517709058
• ISBN-13: 978-0517709054
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,134,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Martin has written and photographed professionally since 1989 with articles and photographs appearing in Sports Illustrated, Summit, Smithsonian, Outside, Backpacker, Climbing, Outdoor and Travel Photography, Boys' Life, Ranger Rick, Outdoor Photographer, Destination, Blue, Audubon, and Rock & Ice.

He wrote Digital Photography Outdoors, 2nd edition (Mountaineer Books). He recently completed Planet Ice, a survey of ice that elucidates the relationship between climate and ice, and the action of ice on the landscape. In the course of shooting he hiked to Everest Base Camp, soloed across the Andes, climbed Kilimanjaro and the mountains of the moon, visited Greenland twice, and led trips to Antarctica. See www.planeticebook.com.

He wrote Masters of Disguise: the natural history of chameleons, the first comprehensive book on chameleons in English. Sasquatch Press published a series of his coffee table books on the mountains of the West, including The North Cascades Crest, Mount Rainier, and Sierra. Extreme Alpinism (Mountaineer Press), written and photographed with Mark Twight, concerns techniques for climbing and surviving the most difficult mountains. The book won the Outdoor Retailer Award and the Banff Mountain Festival Award in 1999.

He has written books for children on natural history, including Hiding Out: camouflage in the wild and Dragons in the Trees (both published by Crown), each declared an Outstanding Science Trade Book by the National Science Teacher's Association and distinguished as Selectors' Choices. They were also Booklist Editor's Choices, American Library Association Best Book selections, and ALA Notable Books for Children. Dragons in the Trees was named the 1992 Outstanding Nature Book for children by the John Burroughs Association and a recommended book for children by the Children's Literature Center of the Library of Congress. Crown published Living Fossils and Frogs in 1997.

Getty Images represents his photography. His travels led him to Africa, Madagascar, Antarctica, Europe, Borneo, Indonesia, and S.E. Asia. He leads photography tours around the world for Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris. He currently acts as executive director of Art Wolfe Inc. Over the last three decades he has hiked thousands of miles and climbed extensively.