The Pros & Cons of Being a Frog

May 23, 2016
The boy who narrates this picture book, originally published in Australia in 2012, says that his friend Camille loves math so much that “some days she only talks in numbers.” He also knows that when she starts reciting her six times tables, “it’s time for a snack.” Camille knows him well, too—she’s the one who suggested he trade in his cat costume (which attracted unwelcome canine attention) for a frog costume. He wants to make one for Camille, too, but their measuring session grows tense—“Stop wriggling!” the boy shouts—and she walks out. The boy makes a thoughtful list of the relevant facts (“Not everyone loves wearing a frog costume as much as I do”) before finding Camille to apologize. DeGennaro’s softly tinted drawings render the children as bashful figures surrounded by the things they think most about. The boy’s costume-making and Camille’s fondness for math defy gender stereotypes, while Camille’s quirks are typical of children whose intellectual abilities outstrip their social skills. Their mutual recognition of each other’s gifts and habits should be a welcome example for children forging their own friendships. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from May 15, 2016
The amphibian in this Australian import is actually a child who likes to dress as something else because it "makes me feel brave."The child had tried being a cat, but good friend Camille discreetly suggested (after watching a friend run repeatedly from a dog) that a different animal might work better. DeGennaro's introduction places the two on opposite sides of the gutter, highlighting their differences. The narrator sports one-piece pajamas, green slippers, and a green, knitted cap with two froglike bulges on top. Behind the narrator are collages of the tadpole's life cycle. Camille, wearing her signature red polka-dot boots, is surrounded by graphs and numbers. Although the protagonist knows that when Camille recites the six times table it signals hunger, her repetition and wriggling during measurements for a matching costume are maddening; the narrator's frustrated outburst causes her to walk off the page. These rosy-cheeked white children, created on the taupe pages with ink, pencil, and Conte crayons, exude personality--through lopsided goggles and smiles, gentle gestures, and bodies that relate to each other as if through gravitational pull. Sequential panels, thought bubbles, and backgrounds are expertly designed with mathematical symbols and frogs, enhancing comprehension of the characters' interior worlds. The visuals surrounding their endearing embrace show how unspoken layers contribute to communication and reconciliation.This celebration of differences displays great respect for readers' intelligence and yields more with each reading. (Picture book. 5-8)

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July 1, 2016

K-Gr 2-Camille REALLY loves math. Some days she speaks only in numbers (23 is yes, and 17 is no), and she sings the times tables when she is hungry. Her best friend, while not so math obsessed, is equally unique and wears an animal costume all day at school. When Camille notices that he is being plagued by a rambunctious puppy, because he is currently donning a cat costume, she persuades him to choose another animal. After some false starts with a shark and a giraffe, they hit upon the frog as the perfect costume. Of course, frogs are not solitary creatures, so Camille must dress as one, too. With all the measuring and sewing, a fight ensues, but all is quickly resolved for a happy ending. Originally published in Australia, this is award-winning illustrator deGennaro's first book that she also penned. Set against a soothing beige backdrop, the illustrations are rendered in collage, Conte crayon, and pencil and ink. They are detailed yet playful and invite readers to linger over each page. Marvelous images of numbers and graphs are peppered throughout, and the sketches of frogs beg to be closely examined. VERDICT The book has a familiar theme, but it is the illustrations that make it special. Hand it to kids and families who gravitate to picture books with intricate and fascinating images.-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI

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