Walker Beware Of The Frog

This is a fantastic froggy fairy tale from the creator of "And the Train Goes...and Whatever". Mrs Collywobbles has nothing to fear from the strange and fearsome visitors that emerge from the big, dark, scary wood - not with her pet frog guarding the garden gate. Gobble! They don't hang around for long! But when Mrs Collywobbles' frog demands a thank-you kiss, things suddenly take a surprising turn... Editorial Reviews From School Library Journal Grade 1-4--This is a quirky story in which an old woman who lives alone at the edge of a dark, scary wood is protected by her pet frog. The creature easily handles any danger by swallowing each potential evildoer whole. The first villain to meet his fate is Greedy Goblin, followed by Smelly Troll, and finally Giant Hungry Ogre. As each bad guy nears Mrs. Collywobbles's house, he recites a rhyme themed around his distinct characteristics. "Nickerty-noo, nickerty-noo,/if I get a chance,/I'll steal from you," sings Greedy Goblin. The tale ends with a wicked twist. The narration and illustrations are joined tightly together. The text describes the scene in the pictures, pointing out specific things to notice. "Look! There is little Mrs. Collywobbles, hiding in her bathroom." The pen-and-ink and Macintosh artwork statically captures the "action" and creatively portrays each character. As he gobbles each villain, the frog sits passively with the feet, tail, and clothes of his victim hanging out of his mouth. Bright, flat colors contrast sharply against the white background. Stylized flowers and leaves give the pictures a 1960s look. The odd deadpan humor will not appeal to every child, but older readers and literature students will appreciate the irony of this almost fairy tale.--Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH Copyright å¨ Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Review "* "The illustrations have a quirky, nostalgic feel, while repetition and onomatopoeic language grows to a cacophony of sound... A great read-aloud book." Junior on And the Train Goes... (9781406301670) * "A delightful cautionary tale." The Sunday Telegraph on Whatever (9781406301335)"