Am I a Frog?

June 1, 2022
A tadpole can hardly wait to grow up. A frog's life cycle is ably and appealingly presented in an early-reader format by an experienced science writer. As the tadpole grows, it continually asks its neighbor, a snail, the title question, the equivalent of "Are we there yet?" The snail patiently explains each growth stage: the egg, where the frog started; the tadpole stage, including its parts and what they are for; and the changes on the way in the future. Leaping forward, in the penultimate act, the nearly transformed frog emerges to see the sky and feel the air. It will return to the water until its tail has been absorbed and it can survive both in and out of water. The conversation between frog and snail is presented in two colors, allowing dual read-alouds. The words and sentences are simple, with plenty of repetition. Rockwell's illustrations, created with watercolor washes and digital tools, support beginning readers and add further information. We see the frog's changing shape and size, its environment, some of its neighbors, and even its new long tongue, catching a dragonfly prey. An illustration toward the end depicts the frog life cycle--a solid review of the material covered in the book. These simple illustrations are realistic and accurate, right down to the snail. Reading teachers will especially welcome this informative title. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A basic biological process presented appropriately for the beginning reader. (Informational early reader. 4-7)

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August 1, 2022

PreS-Gr 1-The story starts with the very beginning stages of the life cycle of a frog. The main critter asks, "Who am I? Am I a frog?" A second voice responds, "Not yet. But soon." Rockwell then follows the critter's progression, beginning with an egg, then a tadpole, then a frog with a long tail, and finally, fully developed. On the last page, that frog snatches a dragonfly out of the air. Between each stage of the frog's development, readers learn that food, rest, learning how to swim, and growing stronger are all integral steps in the process. Illustrations contain all the colors one would see in nature; specifically, beautiful shades of blue and green that are pleasing to the eye. These illustrations also pair perfectly with the accompanying text, as they help keep readers engaged and show what each stage looks like. A diagram at the end displays the eight stages of development, reinforcing the concepts from the previous pages. VERDICT Written with short, concise sentences that are easy to understand for the earliest readers, this will be welcome as a classroom read-aloud to coincide with a biology unit.-Kerra Mazzariello

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Starred review from June 1, 2022
Preschool-Grade 3 *Starred Review* A tadpole asks, "Am I a frog?" "Not yet. But soon," comes the reply and an explanation that the tadpole's life began in an egg that hatched. Then the tadpole ate and grew. Like a fish, it now has gills for breathing and a tail for swimming. "Am I a fish?" asks the tadpole. No, but as the tadpole gets bigger, its front and back legs will grow, while its tail shortens and disappears. The changes are evident in the illustrations. "Now am I a frog?" "Not yet. But soon." Time passes and the froglet grows, until one day, sitting on a lily pad, it suddenly jumps and catches a dragonfly with its tongue. "Now you are a frog." The final double-page spread shows eight stages of a frog's life cycle. Printed in large type for beginning readers, the simply written, informative text represents a conversation with a tadpole who's looking forward to growing up. His partner in conversation appears to be a nearby snail who's easy to spot in nearly every illustration. Created with watercolors and digital tools, the pleasing artwork helps viewers observe the basic stages of a frog's development. An inviting nonfiction book, beautifully designed for beginning readers and accessible to younger children as well.

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