The Horned Toad Prince [Hardcover]

Michael Austin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2000 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A spirited, contemporary retelling of the classic fairy tale, featuring a hilarious, Southwestern spin.

Reba Jo loves riding all over the wild prairie and roping any critter unlucky enough to cross her path. But when the spunky cowgirl finds herself in a mess of trouble, she's forced to strike a deal with a horned toad-he'll save her hide, but only if she grants him three wishes. Reba Jo tries her darnedest to weasel out of her part of the bargain, but the clever horned toad won't let her off the hook. In the end, she comes to see that a promise is a promise and that words once spoken are not easily taken back.

Author Jackie Mims Hopkins's sizzling Southwestern retelling of the classice fairy tale, THE FROG PRINCE, is enhanced by the Spanish vocabulary sprinkled throughout the text, and is complemented by Michael Austin's vibrant, distinctive illustrations, which colorfully transport young readers to the untamed, dusty prairie.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Hopkins (Tumbleweed Tom on the Texas Trail) spices up the Brothers Grimm's "The Frog Prince" by setting it in the American Southwest and casting its heroine as a spunky cowgirl. Here, horse-riding, lasso-wielding Reba Jo loses not a ball, but her brand-new hat, down the bottom of a dusty well, from whence a homely horned toad retrieves it. His price--Reba Jo must feed him some chili, play him a song on her guitarra and let him take a siesta in her sombrero. The unusual perspectives and broad humor of Austin's (Thirteen Monsters Who Should Be Avoided) over-the-top airbrush illustrations in shades of violet and gold capture Reba Jo's comical disgust as she tries to wiggle out of her unpalatable bargain as well as the ugly toad's insouciant charm as he connives his way free from his curse. Is marriage in store for our plucky heroine and the handsome caballero she frees with her kiss? The deliciously surprising double-twist ending leaves readers free to decide for themselves. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-An entertaining version of "The Frog Prince" with a Texas twist. Reba Jo spends her days alone, playing her guitar or riding the lonesome prairie roping everything in sight. One day, her new cowgirl hat blows off and lands at the bottom of a dried-up well. A pudgy horned toad, seeing Reba Jo's predicament, offers to bring her the hat in exchange for "tres peque-os favors": some chili, a song, and a nap in her hat. The text is interspersed with 25 Spanish words and short phrases easily identified in italics and smoothly defined within the text. A word list with a pronunciation guide is appended. Airbrushed, luminous artwork is reminiscent of the work of Berkeley Breathed in its exaggeration and energy; the perspective, with various slants and angles, makes each illustration a treat. The characters, bursting from their confinement within the frames, will evoke smiles. For example, after eating chili, the sated toad rests on a red chili pepper, one leg draped over the side of the bowl, while splatters of tomato sauce and kidney beans stain the pages. The humorous tale ends as the toad-now-turned-prince thanks Reba Jo for the kiss that freed him from the spell he was under and prepares to leave. The last page reveals the girl wordlessly twirling her lasso to capture the unwary prince, while the red sun sets in the west.
Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers; 1st edition (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561451959
• ISBN-13: 978-1561451951
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 10.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,229,535 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 Hopping Good!, April 28, 2000

By 

A Reader from Massachusetts (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Horned Toad Prince (Hardcover)

Jackie M. Hopkins spins a lively tale with spicy flavor. "The Horned Toad Prince" is peppered with Spanish words that are easy to understand in context with the story -- but just in case a word proves troublesome, there is a handy Spanish/English dictionary at the end of the book. Does Reba Jo meet her match in the Horned Toad? She's a feisty gal; the toad is as clever as a Texas day is hot. Enjoy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Horned Toad Prince by Jackie Hopkins, April 11, 2000

By 

Terri S. Popp (Cypress, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Horned Toad Prince (Hardcover)

As I read this book to my first graders they just giggled and giggled. I had their full attention for the entire book. At the end of the story we discussed our favorite part and we decided it was when the horned toad ate the bowl of chili. The illustrations are just wonderful!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Horned Toad Prince is a GREAT read aloud !, April 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Horned Toad Prince (Hardcover)

This delightful tale by Jackie M. Hopkins will make you laugh out loud! Peppered with Spanish words and phrases, Reba Jo and the Horned Toad's dialogue is absolutely a hoot! Kids of all ages love to hear fractured fairy tales, and I am sure this one will be a favorite. I highly recommend this title and plan to use it in my school library!