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52nd out of 184 books
—
144 voters
Jennifer Murdley's Toad (Magic Shop #3)
Jennifer Murdley had no idea what she was getting into the day she bought the big toad from the strange man who ran Elives' Magic Shop. The thing didn't even start talking to her until she had it out of the shop.And once the toad did start to talk, it still kept a lot of secrets. So Jennifer didn't find out about his strange birth...or the treasure hidden in his forehead.....more
Paperback, 176 pages
Published
June 1st 1993
by Aladdin Paperbacks
(first published April 1992)
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I liked this Magic Shop Book as much as I liked "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher." The characters and plot are completely different (save for one or two minor recurring characters), but the humor and heart is the same. ("Jeremy" is perhaps a bit more "magical," in my opinion, while "Jennifer" has more of a modern fairy-tale feel.)
The backstory of the title toad is quite interesting, especially to fans of fairy tales, and the theme of self-image and outside appearances is also touching and well...more
The backstory of the title toad is quite interesting, especially to fans of fairy tales, and the theme of self-image and outside appearances is also touching and well...more
This book was HILARIOUS I read it quite a while ago but i can still tell you one thing...unless you want a talking toad and endless embarrassment don't wear your brothers underwear to school and especially don't tell anyone. I recommend it!1
2 likes
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I first read this book when I was 7 years old. At the time, I had a thing for frogs and toads, and read endless books on the subject when I wasn't out in ditches or ponds catching them. My older sister wanted me to enjoy reading, so she gave me this book as a gift.
I hadn't read any of the other books in the series, nor any other fantasy books for that matter, but due to the stand alone nature of the book it didn't effect my reading at all.
From the moment I turned that first page, this book irre...more
I hadn't read any of the other books in the series, nor any other fantasy books for that matter, but due to the stand alone nature of the book it didn't effect my reading at all.
From the moment I turned that first page, this book irre...more
Sep 20, 2011
Myles
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
wonder-tales,
kids-stuff
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher might be the crowd favorite, but Jennifer Murdley's Toad is truly deserving, a perfect modern fairy tale.
Jennifer, a girl in a "plain brown wrapper", is insecure about herself because of her looks and is often teased at school. Like in his better books, Coville takes time to develop Jennifer before magic happens to her. She's a thoughtful, kind girl and is mortified when, at the beginning of the book, must go to school wearing her brother's underwear. She confides...more
Jennifer, a girl in a "plain brown wrapper", is insecure about herself because of her looks and is often teased at school. Like in his better books, Coville takes time to develop Jennifer before magic happens to her. She's a thoughtful, kind girl and is mortified when, at the beginning of the book, must go to school wearing her brother's underwear. She confides...more
This book is about a girl named Jennifer, who thinks everyone thinks they are more beautiful than her. It was true, Jennifer wasn't exactly a fashion model.
She purchases a fat, ugly toad from the mysterious Mr. Elvis's Magic Shop...had gets the adventure of a lifetime when the toad starts talking to her, warning her of a deadly Beauty Parlor, a magical gem, and a witch who wants to kill her! Jennifer embarks on a quest to keep the toad safe from the evil witch; but then he craftily gets stolen b...more
She purchases a fat, ugly toad from the mysterious Mr. Elvis's Magic Shop...had gets the adventure of a lifetime when the toad starts talking to her, warning her of a deadly Beauty Parlor, a magical gem, and a witch who wants to kill her! Jennifer embarks on a quest to keep the toad safe from the evil witch; but then he craftily gets stolen b...more
Jul 19, 2007
Malbadeen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people that have stupidly not gotten around to Coville yet.
Shelves:
childrens-young-adult
This book starts with a great first line (and I'm not just saying that because I've had to wear my brothers underwear before) and every chapter is a great anticipatory set for the next - the stuff of great Read Alouds. I was surprised by how quickly Coville moved from the amusing first line, to some heavy truths, and back to the grabber chapter ending. My kids and I were fortunate enough to have a librarian in the car with us for 6 + hours and everytime she stopped reading my son demanded that s...more
Not as good as "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher". Maybe it's because I'm not really into magic stories and can't wrap my head around that kind of fantasy. The first was a good story and exciting, but this was kind of dull in comparison! The colors and fantasy of the dragon moving around the room through Jeremy's eyes was cool, but this frog just went thump and was, well, dull!
Well... it's certainly amusing. I was actually surprised that it wasn't all cheap awful 'kid' stuff; I actually had fun seeing what happened, and it had just enough plot for me to imagine more depth to it than there actually was.
It should be noted, however, that I read it years ago, and just figured out what it was again, so I may have a different opinion were I to reread it.
It should be noted, however, that I read it years ago, and just figured out what it was again, so I may have a different opinion were I to reread it.
Oct. 2009 Review:
I was hoping this would be good for Samma but I think that the cattiness of the girls at the beginning might be more than I want to expose her to. Oddly enough, I don't think I've ever read this Bruce Coville book. I found it in the used books section of Fat Cat Books. Maybe Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher is less catty since it's about a boy. I think Sam would really love most of it, just not the mean girls aspect.
June 2011 Review:
I'm not thrilled with all of the cattiness and...more
I was hoping this would be good for Samma but I think that the cattiness of the girls at the beginning might be more than I want to expose her to. Oddly enough, I don't think I've ever read this Bruce Coville book. I found it in the used books section of Fat Cat Books. Maybe Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher is less catty since it's about a boy. I think Sam would really love most of it, just not the mean girls aspect.
June 2011 Review:
I'm not thrilled with all of the cattiness and...more
Jennifer Murdley is not a pretty girl, but she is smart and likeable. In this children's chapter book, Jennifer stumbles upon a traveling magic shop and leaves with her very own talking toad! This toad winds up getting Jennifer, and her friends, into one uncomfortable pickle after another.
Jennifer Murdley's Toad, with its elements of the supernatural and its whimsical feel, is a terrifically fun book! Coville has a knack for ending chapters with an interest-grabbing hook that makes the reader so...more
Jennifer Murdley's Toad, with its elements of the supernatural and its whimsical feel, is a terrifically fun book! Coville has a knack for ending chapters with an interest-grabbing hook that makes the reader so...more
I absolutely did not want to read this book. I had to for a 6th grade reading project and I actually throw a fit about reading this book. I thought it looked to childish and stupid to be quiet honest. I was WRONG!!!This book was unbelievably HILARIOUS!!! and I was glad that I stuck with this book and it turned out that I ended up reading it twice.
This is a cute story about a girl who goes into a magic shop and buys a frog. As it turns out the frog is a talking frog! With a kiss, it can turn a person into a toad like himself, then that person has to kiss someone else to make the enchantment go away. There is an evil witch who is trying to get Jennifer's toad for her own personal reasons.
Jul 27, 2011
Libby
added it
I really liked this book and it was weird in some parts but I enjoyed the toda that Jennifer bought named Bufo. I didn't like all the stuff that she had to put up with him such as when Jennifer's friend got turned into a toad and I can't tell you anymore about the book. You'll just have to read it to find out how the book ends.
A formulaic little book. You can tell that Coville is a real pro. The book has a slick, churned-out feel to it: here's the protagonist, here's the problem, here's the rising climax, and whammo-bango, here's the action-packed ending. I don't sense that much passion or care went into the book.
On another note, the talking toad annoyingly speaks in different voices. Worse, he uses the voices of "John Wayne" or "Bogart," among others: references utterly lost on my 7 year old.
The late and half-worke...more
On another note, the talking toad annoyingly speaks in different voices. Worse, he uses the voices of "John Wayne" or "Bogart," among others: references utterly lost on my 7 year old.
The late and half-worke...more
Simply something to pass the time. It didn't change my life or anything but, I know I will pick it up and read it again. I own it so I read it a lot when I was a kid. I just read it around a month ago so, its still okay for a book, I guess (most confusing review ever, huh?).
Another fun Magic Shop book by Bruce Coville, however I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the others. That could possibly be because of how poorly Jennifer felt about herself throughout most of the book. We do find out where our rat friends Roxanne and Jerome come from!
I love the Magic Shop series! I love that it doesn't matter what order you read them in, they are an adventure! What a great idea to make the Magic Shop itself the only thing that stays the same. The possibilities are endless!
Chloe and I are reading this together for our "bookclub". I liked it and appreciated the message (beauty isn't everything and can, in fact, be only skin deep). Fun easy read. Good for 8-10 year olds.
DARLING! This was recommended to me by my nine year old daughter as one of her favorite books of all time! So of COURSE I had to read it too. Funny with lots of unexpected twists and turns.
So many of the Battle of the Books selections are really serious. This one is pure fun and fantasy. It's a great introduction to the very quirky world of the author, Bruce Coville's, books!
This book is about a toad named bufo and Jennifer who wants to use bufo in a prodject for a specail pet but she can't because mr elives said she can't tell anyone.great book
This is an ok book for a beginning reader who is stuck somewhere without anything else to read. But if you have something else to read or do, I would recommend doing that.
I loved this story as a child. I found it magical and very entertaining. Give this book to your child for a magical journey that they will never forget.
ummmm one of my favorite aouthors Bruce coville had a funny,mystoious,and suprizing books I have ever read I hope you read this book it is wonderful!
May 19, 2009
Alison Miller
marked it as to-read
Have not yet started this book but am looking forward to musings proffered by a bufo americanus with a 'tude...just like the one at my house!
I love how (unlike most fairy tales) she didn't get her wish,but realized her true worth and that beauty isn't all that matters. :)
Jennifer considers herself and her life plain and unnoticeable. The magician that gives her a talking frog though changes her life.
A fun book for kids. Jennifer gets a talking toad from a magic shop who accidentally turns Jennifer's friend into a toad.
Loved this book!!! Written for tweens or teens but it was such a great story! I highly recommend this book - a quick read and it will make your heart smile!
3rd entry in the Magic Shop series and this one is a good one. Has a couple of unexpected twists at the end.
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Jun 26, 2008 10:35am
Jun 26, 2008 11:58am