The Hop

January 1, 2012
Moranville transforms the Grimms' classic "The Frog Prince" into a humorous environmental tale. It begins with a prophecy. Tad, a young toad, Bufo americanus, has a dream during his winter sleep, in which he sees "Rumbler" (a backhoe) burying all the residents of Toadville-by-Tumbledown. In order to save Tumbledown from becoming a mini strip mall, Tad must kiss the (human) Queen of the Hop. That human turns out to be Taylor, who frequently stays with her grandmother Eve, whose property borders Toadville-by-Tumbledown. Embracing Eve's stories of Vietnam-era protests, Taylor embarks on a plan to stop the development. The quick-paced, humorous narrative shifts between Tad and Taylor. Readers will eagerly follow these two unlikely heroes as they share their first, then second kiss, and Taylor wins the title of Queen of the Hop. Tad's transformation from toad to boy and back again is convincing. A subplot gently addresses Taylor's concerns as Eve undergoes and recuperates from chemotherapy. Moranville writes about the complex world of toads and the importance of preserving wild areas with a light hand, and the happy ending, which moves several years into the future, is satisfying. An enchanting adventure. (Fantasy. 8-12)

(COPYRIGHT (2012) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

March 1, 2012

Gr 4-6-Tad, a toad, lives in Toadville-by-Tumbledown. The toads have been warned that "Rumbler," a bellowing, stinking monster, will be coming to scrape the earth and crumble their town. The only solution for saving their community is for one of them to kiss a real human. Nearby, Taylor loves spending time with her grandmother, but she's worried about the property adjoining Eve's land. When she was young, she spent time at its pond and it was her kingdom, but it was recently sold and commercially zoned. Forty brief chapters tell the alternating stories of Tad and Taylor. Readers get an up-close-and-personal look at what it might feel like to be a small animal when its habitat is disturbed. From the seriousness of Taylor's grandmother's chemotherapy to a Queen of the Hop contest, Moranville skillfully weaves an action-packed, fast-paced, multilayered story. Illustrations in various sizes add to the enjoyment of the novel and will assist readers in visualizing the story from its dual viewpoints. This entertaining book is sure to become a popular read-aloud while prompting discussions about protecting the environment and the impact of human activities on the wildlife.-Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2012
Grades 4-6 Young, timid toad Tad awakes from hibernating to discover his woodlands home and its wildlife are being threatened by the earth-shaking monster Rumbler. To save them all, he must fulfill a prophecy and quest, which includes the daunting task of finding and kissing the human Queen of the Hop. Meanwhile, human girl Taylor treasures spending time with her grandmother Eve and enjoying the beautiful nearby woods, but she learns they've been sold for development and is determined to protect them. Eventually the two stories intersect in surprising ways. This engaging, contemporary read interweaves fantasy with realistic elementsand aspects of the fairy tale The Frog Prince and includes both humorous and touching moments, which are enhanced by nicely rendered black-and-white illustrations. Appealing characters, both human and animal, and their detailed, alternating narratives lend liveliness and depth to the novel. Moranville explores themes including the interrelationship between human and natural worlds, as well as conservation issues; the challenges related to change; the idea that individuals can make a difference; and the power of music.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)