Froginabogreview

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3--Himmelman leads children through natural events that occur on a typical day in a bog, beginning with a frog hopping into some moss. Simple sentences describe what is happening in the colorful art, reinforcing what is likely evident to children: "The frog hops from a fern and lands with a plop in the moss. Two mosquitoes fly away. One mosquito lands on a sundew. The sundew curls around it." Throughout, readers are introduced to plant, insect, and animal names that may not be commonly known and the idea that some events trigger others. Some classification lessons are included at the end of the book. The watercolor illustrations are definitely a draw: the effect is soft and delicate. Detail is beautifully rendered, and elements of the pictures often spill outside the boundaries of the frames. Back pages offer labeled pictures of plants and animals for closer inspection. This book will have broad appeal and would be suitable for sharing with a small group in a classroom setting.--Corrina Austin, Locke's Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada - Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. Himmelman, author, illustrator, and naturalist, brings children into the unique environment of a bog, showing it teeming with life. The close-up begins as a frog hops from a fern to some moss, causing two mosquitoes to fly away. One of the mosquitoes lands on a sundew plant, which promptly ingests the bug. And so it goes, as chance encounters lead toward nourishment, hunger, or even death. Mostly, the animals (including one particular mammal, a human girl with binoculars) simply eye one another. There's no real narrative, just a series of events from the natural world. But children, who have an innate interest in flora and fauna (especially the creepy-crawly kind), should find this captivating, due in great measure to the delicate yet energetic ink-and-watercolor art. The close-up views and the simple field guide at the end of the book provide lots to look at; adults and kids can have fun together using this as a jumping-off place for outdoor activities. Ilene Cooper