Frog and Friends: Frog Saves the Day

By: Eve Bunting
Illustrated by: Jose Masse
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: September 2013
ISBN: 978-1585368105
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: October 2013

Racoon was all upset. Very upset as a matter of fact and he went off to Frog to talk to him about it. Racoon was having trouble sleeping and told Frog “Every night a big, big, big noise wakens me.” Just what could that be? Every time it happened Racoon had to hide because it was so, so scary. No, it wasn’t thunder but sounded just like it. Frog had to think about what to do and he thought very, very hard. “You and I,” he said to Racoon, “and our friends will go together and find out what it is. It is better to face up to what frightens you.” And so they would do just that.

The next night Frog and his friends, including Racoon, went off to find out just what that noise was. Possum, Squirrel, Chameleon, Rabbit, and Little Jumping Mouse didn’t hear anything strange, but Racoon told them to wait. “It will make your fur stand on end,” she declared. All of a sudden Frog and friends’ eyes grew wide as they heard a very loud and very scary sound. “Raaaaaaaaaaa-cla cla cla!” Everyone was very, very frightened and Possum’s hair certainly stood on end. What could that very, very horrible, scary sound possibly be?

Once again Frog and his friends get together in a couple of very humorous stories young readers will love. Of course that very, very horrible, scary sound was none other than a people eating train that was a “ferocious dragon.” In the second tale in this beginning chapter book, Frog saves the day by jumping into swirling waters in an attempt to save Possum’s wayward youngster, Baby Five. Newly independent and confident readers can tackle this book alone or with a minimum of assistance with more difficult words such as “frightens.” The artwork, combined with the exciting, humorous tales with Frog and his friends, has high appeal that young readers are definitely drawn to. Appropriate for grades 1 to 2.

Quill says: If you have a young reader who loves a little humor and adventure, the Frog and Friends series has just the recipe for fun!