From Booklist
Ages 3^-6. "In the city of Paris, as everyone knows, frog legs are eaten, except for the toes." And so a frog named Philippe makes his leap to freedom into Monet's Giverny garden, where he finds "a home to call his own" and inspires the artist to add "some green to his painterly scene." This tale of frog freedom is told in bouncy, child-friendly rhyme and illustrated with sunny watercolors animated with vibrant black outlining. Intended for a younger audience than Linnea in Monet's Garden, this is fun, froggy fare with an art history fillip. As for its being a child's guide to Monet's world of impressionism, however, parents beware: young friends of Philippe will fruitlessly search Monet's paintings to find this frog. Annie Ayres
Review
This mere wisp of a rhymed story is accompanied by charming, seemingly effortless illustrations of Philippe, an outsized frog, who manages to end up in painter Claude Monet's garden at Giverny. Published by Boston's Museum of Fine Arts as a gift-shop item in connection with its current exhibition of Monet's late work, the 24-page book is likely to pique young listeners' interest in the artist's Water Lillies paintings. No, they won't find Philippe on any of the lily pads, but they will be pleased to know that the artist (at least in this tale) did not share his countrymen's enthusiasm for frog legs as dinner fare. -- From Parents' Choice®
