The Littlest Frog (Littlest Series) [Hardcover]

Sylvia Rouss (Author), Holly Hannon (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Series: Littlest Series

Pharaoh refuses to let the Israelites go. The plague of frogs arrives and Pharaoh finds there is no where to hide from the frogs. Pharaoh is determined to rid the place of the frogs, but as soon as he is certain that he has swept up all the frogs, the littlest frog, who has been cowering under the Pharaoh’s bed, appears and let out a giant “CROAK!”. The entire book is done in rhyme.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Children will have a wonderful time listening to the easy-to-remember rhymes that comprise this story. This is a unique Passover story that can sell all year ‘round because the story line is fast moving and has general appeal. This is the first of a series of rhyming stories that will appear each season.

About the Author

Sylvia Rouss is an author and educator who has taught preschool in Jewish Community Centers and Synagogues in Los Angeles and Baltimore since 1973. She was awarded the Samuel Glasner Creative Teaching Award in 1989 from the Baltimore Board of Jewish Education. She continues to write for the preschoolers in her classroom and finds they are her best critics.

Raised in Southern California, Sylvia received her Bachelors Degree from California State University, Fresno. Her first book, “Fun With Jewish Holiday Rhymes”, was published by UAHC Press in 1992. Three rhymes from this book were also included in the book “Hanukkah, Oh, Hanukkah” published by Bantam Press. In 1993, her second book, “Sammy Spider’s First Hanukkah”, was published by KAR-BAN COPIES INC. Because of the book’s popularity, Sylvia was asked to write other Sammy Spider holiday books. There are currently six books in the series, including “Sammy Spider’s First Rosh Hashanah”, “Sammy Spider’s First Shabbat”, “Sammy Spider’s First Tu B’Shevat”, “Sammy Spider’s First Purim” and “Sammy Spider’s First Passover”. Sylvia has written a seventh book for the series, “Sammy Spider’s First Trip to Israel”, which KAR-BEN hopes to publish next year. “The Littlest Frog” is her first book for Pitspopany Press.

Sylvia has done book readings and parent/teacher workshops throughout the country. Currently, she is scheduled to read “The Littlest Frog” at two Los Angeles museums, The Zimmer Children’s Discovery Museum and the Skirball Cultural Center this spring.

Sylvia has been happily married for 27 years and is very proud of her 3 adult children – a teacher, a magazine editor, and a college student in Israel.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simcha Media Group (NJ) (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930143125
• ISBN-13: 978-1930143128
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #744,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sylvia Rouss is the award-winning author and early childhood educator who created the popular Sammy Spider and The Littlest books.


Even with her success as an author, Sylvia has not given up what she loves most, teaching. She is currently a preschool teacher in Los Angeles, and says that she "is inspired by the children in my classroom".


Sylvia also received awards as an educator and she conducts seminars for parents and teachers.


Sylvia is a featured author and lecturer at book fairs throughout the United States and Israel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful story for Children, April 7, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Littlest Frog (Littlest Series) (Hardcover)

"Another Spring creature leaps from the story of Passover. The Littlest Frog frolics from the pen of Sylvia Rouss, known for her tales of Sammy Spider, as she makes the most of one of the least of the heroes in Exodus. Cheery rhymed couplets elaborate on Pharoah's exasperation when his refusal to let the Hebrews leave Egypt leads to a visitation by hordes of frogs, including one tiny, timid fellow. Vivid pictures by Holly Hannon, rich in royal purple, hop with action, and the little one's triumph." From Pages Spring Sampler

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Littlest Frog, February 12, 2002

By 

Rena E. Rotenberg (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Littlest Frog (Littlest Series) (Hardcover)

From the very talented pen of Sylvia Rouss, a creative and resourceful Jewish early childhood educator, comes this delightful Pesach story for children. Told in rhyme, the story focuses on the time that the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, and particularly on the plague of frogs during that time. "A little frog sat in the hot Egyptian sun,/ Watching Jewish slaves work, while Pharaoh had fun./ Moses, their leader, warned evil Pharaoh,/ `Bad things will happen if you don't let us go'/ I'm the great Pharaoh and nothing scares me!/ The Jewish people will stay! They'll never be free!"

The book describes the antics of the frogs and they hop all over the pharaoh's rooms, swim in his bath, and even sit on his throne, with the Pharaoh all the while chasing them with a broom: "There were frogs n the curtains and in the fruit bowls./ There were frogs peeking out from papyrus scrolls./ He saw frogs on the ceiling and frogs on the wall./ He saw frogs in each room and down every hall." But one frog - the littlest - is afraid of all the commotion and has hidden under the bed. The Pharaoh, feeling all powerful and fearless, is sure he has taken care of the frog problem. But the little frog eventually emerges from his hiding place, hops onto the Pharaoh and utters a loud croak, causing Pharaoh to have a change of heart. "Perhaps Moses was right, the Jews should be free./ Maybe that's why this is happening to me."

The colorful and action-packed illustrations ably convey the Pharaoh's frustration and captures the frogs' playfulness. A glossary at the beginning of the book is quite helpful in defining words that may be unknown to a child, such as scepter, papyrus, or hieroglyphics. A welcome addition to a home or school library and a highly relevant book for the Pesach Seder. Ages 3-7.

Rena E. Rotenberg is coordinator of the Early Childhood Education Center for Jewish Education in Baltimore Maryland.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the Jewish Journal by Penny Schwartz, April 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Littlest Frog (Littlest Series) (Hardcover)

Hot off the press is The Littlest Frog, a rousing new Passover book by Sylvia Rouss and illustrated by Holly Hannon. In the Littlest Frog, Rouss, the well-known author of the Sammy Spider holiday series, raises her whimsical story telling to new heights. In the Passover story told in the Haggadah at the Seder, the ten plagues delivered to Pharoh and the Egyptians to "let my people go", were no laughing matter. But in this rhyming yarn, silly, fun-loving frogs lighten the load and create child-friendly mischief, driving the Pharoh crazy. Emerald green frogs appear to jump off the pages in the bright, joyful illustrations. They smile as they happily leap all over Pharoh and his palace. There are even frogs wearing sun glasses! The book follows the endearing Littlest Frog who observes the sadness of the Jewish slaves working while Pharoh had fun. Children relate to the Littlest Frog's feelings with the repeating refrain "But the Littlest Frog was very afraid. He hid under the bed, and that's where he stayed." Until the Littlest Frog shows the courage of Moses and rises to the occasion - putting the evil Pharoh in his place! Rouss and Hannon have created an upbeat and appealing book to match the spirit of freedom celebrated at Passover. It is a perfect choice for the spring season - but its appeal will attract children beyond Passover.