I Don't Want to Be a Frog

by Dev Petty, Mike Boldt (Illustrator)

Overview

The hit picture book about a frog who does NOT want to be a frog is now a board book!

Frog wants to be anything but a slimy, wet frog. A cat, perhaps. Or a rabbit. An owl? But when a hungry wolf arrives—a wolf who HATES eating frogs—our hero decides that being himself isn’t so bad after all. In this very silly story with a sly message, told in hilarious dialogue between a feisty young frog and his heard-it-all-before father, young children will identify with little Frog’s desire to be something different, while laughing along at his stubborn yet endearing schemes to prove himself right.

And look for the hilarious sequels - I Don't Want to Be Big and There's Nothing to Do!

★ "First-time author Petty’s dialogue between a frog father and his son makes its point about accepting one’s nature with a big grin. . . . The story might create similar gratitude in the minds of readers—or it might just make them giggle."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

"A lively look at self-acceptance."—Kirkus Reviews

"This amusing story ends with a laugh and a much more content frog."—School Library Journal

"Silliness and deadpan humor combine into a hopping good story of being happy with who you are."—Booklist

"A paean to self-acceptance wrapped in snappy dialogue and illustrated with richly colored comic paintings."—Wall Street Journal

"Petty and Boldt provide just enough predictability to hook youngest readers, then deliver a delightful twist or two to create surprise and satisfaction—for both the green hero and the many fans he'll make with this book."—Shelf Awareness

"This lighthearted exploration of identity will delight as a readaloud."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780525579502
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	04/17/2018
Pages:	26
Sales rank:	93,664
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 7.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

DEV PETTY is the author of I Don’t Want to Be a Frog, I Don’t Want to Be Big, and There's Nothing to Do!. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, Dev previously worked as a visual-effects artist in film, contributing to such movies as the Matrix Trilogy. Dev was born and raised in Berkeley, California, and now lives right next door in Albany with her husband, two daughters, some dogs, and other critters. Visit her online at devpetty.com.
 
MIKE BOLDT is an author and illustrator living in the countryside of Alberta, Canada. He has been illustrating for children for the past fifteen years, including I Don’t Want to Be a Frog, I Don’t Want to Be Big, and There's Nothing to Do!. When he’s not drawing, he’s building snow forts and Lego spaceships with his three kids, or sharing laughs and his ice cream with his wife. He is very glad he’s not a frog. Visit Mike online at mikeboldt.ca.

Editorial Reviews

★ "First-time author Petty’s dialogue between a frog father and his son makes its point about accepting one’s nature with a big grin. . . . The story might create similar gratitude in the minds of readers—or it might just make them giggle."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

"A lively look at self-acceptance."—Kirkus Reviews

"This amusing story ends with a laugh and a much more content frog."—School Library Journal

"Silliness and deadpan humor combine into a hopping good story of being happy with who you are."—Booklist

"A paean to self-acceptance wrapped in snappy dialogue and illustrated with richly colored comic paintings."—Wall Street Journal

"Petty and Boldt provide just enough predictability to hook youngest readers, then deliver a delightful twist or two to create surprise and satisfaction—for both the green hero and the many fans he'll make with this book."—Shelf Awareness

"This lighthearted exploration of identity will delight as a readaloud."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

★ 11/24/2014
First-time author Petty’s dialogue between a frog father and his son makes its point about accepting one’s nature with a big grin. Boldt (Colors Versus Shapes) draws the two with exaggerated stringiness: the son is all rubber lips and sticky toes, his bespectacled father working as straight man. The young frog would rather be a cat, or perhaps a rabbit. “You can’t be a Rabbit,” says his beleaguered father. “Why not? Look, I can hop!” “Sure, but where are your long ears?” The small frog looks up, purses his lips, and feels around his head—nothing! “Besides,” his father adds, “what’s wrong with being a Frog?” “It’s too slimy,” the young frog replies. He wants to be a pig, then an owl, until a wolf appears—one who loves to eat cats, rabbits, pigs, and owls, but considers frogs “too wet and slimy and full of Bugs.” Now the frog sees his existence in a delightful new light. The story might create similar gratitude in the minds of readers—or it might just make them giggle. Ages 3–7. Illustrator’s agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Little frog wants to be any other animal but a frog! First he wants to be a cat because being a frog is too wet. Next he wants to be a rabbit because he can hop. Little frog’s father reminds him that he cannot be a rabbit since he does not have long ears. Little frog is determined to be another animal and decides on a pig. His father tells him that he does not have a curly tail or eat garbage so he definitely cannot be a pig. These exchanges between father and son go on throughout the whole book until they meet a large, scary dog. The little frog changes his mind about wanting to be another animal when he learns that the big dog does not like to eat frogs. This story gives an important message to young children about embracing who they are and not wanting to be someone else. The illustrations are bright and playful. Children will fall in love with little frog, his father, and the other animals illustrated throughout this meaningful and fun tale. Reviewer: Kristen Klotz; Ages 3 to 6.

Children's Literature - Kristen Klotz

12/01/2014
PreS-Gr 2—Expressive, painted illustrations depict two bipedal frogs deep in a discussion. The duo is set against a solid colored background where sparse details successfully highlight the conversation, which is conveyed in speech balloons. The smaller of the frogs announces that he doesn't want to be a frog, he'd prefer to be a cat, pig, rabbit, or owl. The larger frog has a counterargument for each choice. Finally, a large wolf interjects that we would eat anything, except for frogs, the reasons being the qualities that the small frog also dislikes: too wet, slimy, and bug-eating. This amusing story ends with a laugh and a much more content frog.—Laura Hunter, Mount Laurel Library, NJ

School Library Journal

2014-11-04
A tiny frog desperately wishes to be any other animal.After reading a book about a cat, the young frog stretches open his mouth as wide as it will go and decidedly declares, "I want to be a CAT." His father patiently explains, "You can't be a CAT.…Because you're a FROG." But frogs are too wet and slimy. The little frog then decides to be a rabbit. After all, he can already hop. But father points out that he does not have long ears. The young amphibian is not deterred. There are many other options—a pig, perhaps? Or an owl? But his no-nonsense father explains away each one. Until a wolf, who enjoys eating many animals—except wet, slimy frogs—comes along and changes the young frog's perspective. Debut author Petty presents a droll take on this oft-explored wish of being different. But what shines the brightest is Boldt's expressive frog duo. Question-weary grown-ups will understand the father's heavy-lidded eyes, and nothing embodies a childlike curiosity (and/or crazy, determined declarations) more than the tiny frog's wide-open mouth. Colored speech bubbles distinguish the speakers' words and tumble over each other on the page. A lively look at self-acceptance. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews