Customer Reviews

Frogs (WorldLife Library Series)

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Tired of seeing the same photographs in older books ? Try this book, you will not be disappointed with the spectacular original color photographs by well known nature photographer John Netherton. Accompanying text gives general description of frog sizes, habitats, mating habits and distributions. This book is a definite must for any nature lover for its photos alone.

If frogs are the attraction, don't miss natural history writer David Badger's Frogs, which profiles over fifty frogs selected for their unusual qualities. There are over 3,950 species in the world, so it's unlikely even the most avid frog fan will have seen many of these fascinating photos. But Frogs isn't just a coffee table picture book; it pairs photos by John Neterton with David Badger's non-technical facts and observations, making for an outstanding result.

This book, the first of what would be three collaborations between writer David Badger and photographer John Netherton, puts a well-deserved spotlight on the amazing frogs and toads of the world. Although lizards are my own favorite herps, I also really like frogs and toads. And since they're the most visible and well-known of the amphibian part of the herp world, it seems like they're most people's favorite amphibians by default. The photographs in the book are so beautiful, going beyond just another book of frog and toad photos. The animals are captured at various angles, in various lighting, in various locales, and even struggling against nature, as in the picture of the poor greenhouse frog trying to extricate itself from a Venus flytrap. Mr. Badger discusses subjects such as reproduction, diet, the need to save amphibian populations, the potential medical breakthroughs they're hiding in their bodies (a number of frogs and toads secrete a veritable medicine chest), frog photography, humanity's relationship to the frog, the growing popularity of the frog in recent years, hearing, vocalisation, hibernation, and locomotion. He also provides short but sweet information on the various species profiled, along with maps showing where they live.

Among the frogs and toads photographed are the dart-poison frog, cane toad, glass large-eyed frog, White's tree frog, Chinese microhylid, pygmy banana frog, Pacman frog (the Argentine horned frog), red-eyed tree frog, barking tree frog, pickerel frog, Fowler's toad, Oriental fire-bellied toad, Eastern spadefoot toad, Surinam toad (one of the most interesting specimens in the book, to say the least), harlequin frog, and red-banded crevice creeper. Most of the frogs and toads I had been familiar with previously were the domesticated ones I'd read about in books on pet herps, so learning about and seeing pictures of all of these non-pet species was a real treat. A lot of times each picture seemed to be better and cuter than the last. It's a perfect book for someone who's already interested in herps, or someone who just wants a better understanding and appreciation of frogs and toads.

This book is pretty and wonderful. My kids enjoyed it even before they learned to read. It is worth the price and the pictures are amazing

This is another winner! One of most beautiful book on frogs I've found, and these books are hard to find. The pictures are awesome. Excellent work Mr. Badger! For more information on frogs check out "Frogs a chorus of colors" by Behler. Less pics but more info.

Great service. Fast, good condition. Perfect for an unpatient child who wants his book NOW!