Hop Jump

by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Tired of hopping and jumping, Betsy the frog sees the leaves float down from the trees and is inspired to leap and twirl--she calls it dancing. At first the other frogs tell her there is no room for dancing. But she eventually teaches everyone that there is room for hopping, jumping, and dancing. “A beautifully designed book that, like Walsh’s earlier efforts, yields new subtleties and visual delights with each reading.”-- Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Spanish Literature, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Ellen is the daughter of Joseph Adolphus (a businessman) and Nell (Orum) Stoll; married David Albert Walsh (a professor), August 25, 1964; children: Benjamin Martin. She was educated at Maryland Institute of Art, B.F.A., 1964; attended University of Minnesota, 1966-69.
She lives in upstate New York.

Reviews

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out more Picture book reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

"Tired of hopping and jumping, Betsy the frog sees the leaves float down from the trees and is inspired to leap and twirl--she calls it dancing. At first the other frogs tell her there is no room for dancing. But she eventually teaches everyone that there is room for hopping, jumping, and dancing."

I admit I saw this and thought that my nephew would LOVE to draw it... I never even wondered what the story would be about... I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. The art is cute and full of frogs! For a young child this could be really fun... because it is repetitive visually.

For my nephew it was odd and I think even the message was lost to him because the art was so abstract in its lesson. As the frogs move across the page you aren't really certain what it going on... The words were simple and he enjoyed the fact it was dialogue but putting the two together was a struggle.

I DID like the message that it's okay to hop, jump AND dance, but this is for a little child and the art is so adult. It just doesn't quite compute to me and so I can't recommend for a home library, though it would be fun for a one off checked out from the library!

BOTTOM LINE: A great FROG LOVER book about acceptance...

______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite frog picture book. I use it every year for my frog story time. 6/19/12

Used for my Lap Time this year. 5/29/13

Used for Story Time this year. (I think it works better for the older toddler/preschool program. 6/3/14

Huge hit in story time today.

[Mama Bibliosoph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellen Stoll Walsh's beautiful collage art, usually set against empty or spare backgrounds, has always been a favorite of mine. It reminds me distinctively of Leo Lionni, who was one of my childhood favorites, without being overstimulating.

In Hop Jump, Betsy (a blue frog among green frogs) complains that all the other frogs ever do is "hop jump." Betsy wants to dance; she admires the leaves "leaping, turning, twisting—always different." But when she tries it, Betsy is admonished by the other frogs to hop and jump.

Betsy keeps dancing, and soon the other frogs become curious and some try dancing too. In the end, the frogs are able to appreciate hopping, jumping, and dancing.

I adore this book as a way to celebrate differences that can stand out in how we move our bodies. So many autistic kids spin and jump and stim. This is a perfect book for beginning an affirming conversation about these too-often stigmatizing differences.

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I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post on books for kids who really love frogs and toads: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/frogs-...

[Kimberly]

1-2 simple sentences per page. About a frog who learns to dance and not just hop jump, but all the other frogs keep hop jumping. Then the other frogs learn to dance and tell one frog not to hop jump. A story about inclusivity and there being room for everyone and their activities. A majority of the page is white space and green frog illustrations – very simple and very plain, not super engaging.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good message

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dancing frogs! All Right!!

[Miss Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the frogs just jump and hop all day. All of them but Betsy she want to do something different. Betsy dances. What will the other frogs think?

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betsy is a frog who is bored of hopping and jumping. So she decides to experiment and soon she is leaping and twisting. Dancing! Unfortunately, her grassy dancing spot is interrupted by a group of frogs who insist there is no room for dancing, just hopping and jumping. Betsy and the other frogs learn that diversity is a good thing, you can hop, jump, AND dance!

Walsh’s cut-paper collage illustrations feature speckled frogs with large eyes and magnificent leg muscles. Although the frogs aren’t capable of facial expressions, the movements of their bodies jumping, hopping, leaping, and twirling make up for this inability. The text is concise, with just one sentence to each page.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[Christine Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tired of hopping and jumping, Betsy the frog sees the leaves float down from the trees and is inspired to leap and twirl--she calls it dancing. At first the other frogs tell her there is no room for dancing. But she eventually teaches everyone that there is room for hopping, jumping, and dancing.

Subject: conflict resolution
Frogs -- Juvenile fiction
Dance -- Juvenile fiction

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title is for all children who want to do something different than their friends. Betsy, who is a blue frog, wants to do something more than hop and jump like the green frogs do. She tries and is soon dancing and will she let the green frogs join her. An older title, but the story and illustrations are still for today.

[Fibersian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Print awareness! Vocabulary. Much of this book has the words hop jump twirl in large letters with pictures of a frog doing the action. One frog does all sorts of creative movements and calls them dancing when combined.

[Tristan Doane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book teaches the reader that everyone has their passions. And not to worry if they seem odd at first because others will see it and maybe even join in will all the fun. It is a great lesson for younger kids.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple text and clear, bright illustrations convey the 'dance to the beat of your own drummer' message. This worked very well for the baby storytime, but could also be used for toddlers.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frogs Dance...who knew?

Used for "Frog Fever" Storytime- May, 2010.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Betsy the frog likes to dance but all of the other frogs like to hop and jump. Good story for a "movement" storytime.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book. Add a little "hop jump" in place and the kids are entranced. Sweet message as well.

[Deborah Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures are great. Betsy wants to dance, while everyone else is hopping and jumping. The other frogs want her to hop like them, Betsy wants to be herself. The text has great word repetition.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

que lindo!

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice dancing
nice book
nice message
nice pictures
if i'd written it, i'd be quite happy with it :)

[Archaa]

different, inclusive, verbs, movement, frogs

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book can get your young ones hopping and jumping. Wish the text was written better for littler ones.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is for movers and shakers! I never read this book sitting, we're hopping jumping turning and dancing the whole book through. Caution, this is one kids will ask you to read again!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Betsy is tired of hopping ... she want's to dance! "No room for dancing," say the other frogs. So she finds her own place to dance.

Individualism, tolerance, friendship

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betsy is a rational tolerant frog - yay!!!

[Kelly Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book, I am using it for Music and Movement (ages 5 and under)

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Might use for a PreK lesson about exercise ... but it might be too subtle for my students.

[Abby Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super Cute!

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the concept of doing what moves you, but didn't find this one all that appealing as a read-aloud.

[Naomi]

PBP