Prince of a Frog

February 15, 2015
Who came first: the frog or the prince?Hopper is not your ordinary frog; the pond denizens all consider him a bit of an oddball. Then a wise old turtle-cum-storyteller shares the story of a "prince who was turned into a frog." Maybe that's why Hopper is so peculiar. Hopper believes that he has all the correct physical attributes for frogginess-but might he actually be a prince? Following the requirements of the tale, he sets off on a quest to find a kissing princess. Alas, the quest is a downer. Not a woodpecker nor a smelly skunk nor a hungry fox fills the bill. Then, happily, Hopper meets a perfectly named dog who saves him from the fox, and immediately they become BFFs, singing, kicking balls and kissing. Hopper is still green, goggle-eyed and webbed, but he now understands the true meaning of nobility-all thanks to his new friend. Urbanovic has crafted an entertaining tale that is a twist on an old favorite. Her splashy blues and greens along with very expressive animal faces heighten the spirit of fun amid the animal antics. Speech bubbles for dialogue and a page design that varies between full-page art and sequential panels add to the entertaining narrative. Fairy-tale fun for frog fans. (Picture book. 3-6)