* "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
Fans of Mo Willems’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Jon Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back will love meeting this willful young frog with a serious identity crisis. 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 maybe 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 readers will identify with little Frog’s desire to be something different, while laughing along at his stubborn yet endearing schemes to prove himself right.
“…a paean to self-acceptance wrapped in snappy dialogue and illustrated with richly colored comic paintings by Mike Boldt.”—Wall Street Journal
"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
"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
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful.
An intelligent piece that speaks about self-acceptance and being proud of what we are
By Denis Vukosav
‘I Don't Want to Be a Frog’ a book for children written by Dev Petty and illustrated by Mike Boldt teaches lessons why each of us is important and how crucial is to cherish what we are, our diversity, instead imitating and following others.This picture book follows the trend of far more inclination towards a small number of words, a lot more relying on illustrations made by Mike Boldt which are absolutely amazing, both because of their humor, level of detail and choice of colors, making ‘I Don't Want to Be a Frog’ story easy for the youngest to follow. While author not only emphasizes why this charming frog cannot be either owl, rabbit or cat, the lesson is especially nice delivered with the humorous ending when little frog will meet wolf which will comfort this tiny creature and make him happy because he is precisely the Frog.Another valuable lesson it brought is how important is to avoid the constant striving towards beauty which usually results with low self-esteem – a slimy frog is not so beautiful as cute cat or charming bunny - but physical beauty is certainly not the only thing that young people should strive though in world of today it is getting harder and harder to avoid it.As already mentioned, together with inspiring text, Dev Petty and Mike Boldt work shines with its artwork that will have appeal both on younger kids and their parents while reading ‘I Don't Want to Be a Frog’ as perfect bedtime story.It was full joy to stumble upon such humorous and well-made book for children, but most importantly an intelligent piece that speaks about self-acceptance and being proud of what we are, the very most important lessons for our kids. Therefore, this beautifully illustrated book that children and their families will enjoy immensely with full right can be seen as one of the best books for children released so far in 2015.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful.Sure to be a classic!
By Kevin E.
Hilarious, beautiful, and honest book about self acceptance. Our girls (ages 2 and 4) laugh out loud each time and always ask to read it again! The text and pictures go perfectly together. It's belly-laugh-funny but delivers an awesome message about how it's great to be exactly who you are. Plus: Who can say "no" to a bag of organic badgers, anyway? Not us! Highly recommend for ALL ages.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful.Frog and Wolf Don't Do Lunch.
By A Patient Parent
I love this book! The storyline is very funny, and I’ve never seen a more perfect fusion of words and images in a picture book. Mike Boldt’s pictures make young frog’s enthusiastic energy jump off the page, and Dev Petty’s words charmingly and hilariously convey young frog’s wild imaginings of being some other “cute and warm” kind of animal in his dialogue with dad frog. The story’s dramatic pivot is when the wolf enters the picture and interrupts young frog’s reverie of freedom. The blissful ignorance of youth collides with nature red in tooth and claw. The uh-oh hold-my-breath expression Mike Boldt paints on dad frog’s face at that moment is priceless, and also dad frog’s look of exasperation mixed with parental indulgence later when it becomes clear young frog hasn’t quite grasped the message. And then there’s the bag full of “organic badgers” and the bug sandwiches and more. Kids who read and look at this book will laugh and say “eeewwwww.” Finally, one of the many lessons of the book is there are advantages to accepting and being who you are – not least, in this story, the advantage of not being an appetizing choice on the wolf’s lunch menu.
