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Jerome
Although the witch says she turned him into a prince Jerome still looks like a frog--but he goes about doing princely deeds, convincing a large crow, a fire-breathing dragon, and a powerful wizard to cease their assaults on a small town.
41 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1967
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42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 16, 2024
Jerome, a frog, offends a witch, who curses him by making him a prince while leaving him in his frog form. Jerome goes to a village and announces he is a prince, but the people don't believe him so they assign him three tasks to prove himself. Jerome confronts a crow, a dragon, and a wizard using only common sense negotiations and a willingness to compromise.
It's an odd little fairy tale, but it amused me with the goofy solutions to the frog's problems.
It's an odd little fairy tale, but it amused me with the goofy solutions to the frog's problems.
June 2, 2007
My absolute favorite book as a kid. It's a story about a frog who thinks he is a prince, and he goes around doing princely deeds to prove it. After coming up with brilliant ideas like using the local dragon as a trash incinerator, the people decide that he really is a prince, and it doesn't matter than he's a frog. I like how he manages to change people's perceptions and how in the end, he's content with being a frog. The illustrations are really trippy too. Reminiscent of Yellow Submarine. It's a book worth looking for, you can buy it used at Amazon. They have some pictures of the illustrations there too, just search there instead of on goodreads.
May 9, 2021
am delightful bit of original children's lit with a believe-in-yourself moral. It has a witch, a wizard, and talking animals for fans of Roald Dahl and Brothers Grimm. Great illustrations by Jerome Snyder.
March 29, 2019
Oh, this book! One of my childhood most favorites, but I'd lost it somewhere. I spend the next 30 years looking for it, and found it in an antique store one day -- I just about fainted! Yes, reading it as an adult was as adorable and charming as I remembered it to be.
June 11, 2015
This is one of my most-favorite-ever books and is still my #1 favorite to read out loud. The witch is wonderfully and deliciously cackle-y. The swampy-scented dragon is whiny and the emo wizard at the end has the best line ever about running down the hill so fast, he couldn't stop.
The colors are trippy, the villagers are trippy, the whole thing was probably written in some smoky haze of I-don't-know-what but that just makes it so much more fetching to a child's imagination and I retained my child's imagination so this book continues to be a favorite.
The colors are trippy, the villagers are trippy, the whole thing was probably written in some smoky haze of I-don't-know-what but that just makes it so much more fetching to a child's imagination and I retained my child's imagination so this book continues to be a favorite.
March 24, 2013
I loved this book as a child. Jerome, who looked like a frog, had the heart of a prince He took care of the townspeople and their problems by negotiating with the town's tyrants. (not killing them) He was an intellectual frog with simple needs(a pond and a fly), true to himself, while earning the respect of the townspeople. The illustrations are groovy.
July 17, 2015
One of my childhood favorites which I still own. Jerome is true to himself, gradually changing the perceptions of others by going out and accomplishing good in the world, despite little being expected of him. The children I work with enjoy the story and colorful illustrations.
December 30, 2016
This was a favorite of my two boys. Well, mine, too. One I never tired of reading to them. Just beautifully written and illustrated. A lovely story about courage and self-confidence.
November 20, 2025
I came across Jerome in a library donation box and was immediately drawn to it — it’s very weird with its medieval setting, ironic storytelling, and unusual approach to identity and nature, but Philip Ressner’s writing has a unique flair that I couldn’t help liking. Jerome Snyder’s multicolored psychedelic illustrations might be scary to some kids, but I found them charming in an offbeat, Pop Art sort of way.
Jerome, a frog content with his swamp and his flies, accidentally insults a witch, who gives him the dual blessing and curse of becoming a prince. Jerome travels to the nearest village to prove his princehood, and the villagers give him three plagues to deal with — a ravenous crow, a destructive dragon, and a fearsome wizard in a tower — in order to earn the title of prince. Jerome confronts each challenge with an attitude of common sense and understanding, and his heroic exploits win him the admiration of the townspeople, as well as a brilliant green castle and a swamp with all the flies he could ever want.
Ressner’s writing is humorous and ironic, though not particularly memorable. Jerome is set in a semi-mythical medieval Europe full of talking animals, dragons, witches, and wizards. Several of the motifs of the story — the slaying of a dragon by a prince, the ignorance of the townspeople, etc.— are reminiscent of classical medieval art and literature. Ressner uses a traditional fairytale storytelling structure (three tasks that a hero must complete) and even references Aesop’s Fables with the talking animals and common sense lessons. It is Jerome’s courage, self-confidence, and insight that helps him win his battles, and the theme of compromise without dishonor is one that befits the story nicely.
The witch’s spell on Jerome is an ambiguous one: she supposedly curses him to become a prince, but only good things come as a result of this curse. Ressner ponders what makes a prince and how a person’s identity can change as Jerome embarks on a series of quests to prove his worth as a prince. Interestingly, though the witch has apparently already turned Jerome into a prince, he has no real status as such until he has proven himself to the disbelieving townsfolk. Ressner leaves it ambiguous as to whether Jerome became a prince by doing princely deeds, or if he was able to accomplish the princely deeds because he was a prince. The witch’s curse seems to be more of a blessing, or even a spur for Jerome to discover something about himself that he didn’t know. Especially interesting is the fact that Jerome really does not undergo any character development; he’s already exactly who he needs and wants to be, and his journey in this book impacts everyone around him for the better. Jerome gets his happy ending and is content with reconciling his identity as a frog and a prince.
The central theme of Jerome seems to be the truth that creatures must be true to their own nature. Though Jerome ultimately proves that he is a prince — or at least a princely frog — he returns to his place in the pond, catching flies and enjoying life as a frog, as is his nature. The enemies he goes up against each have to be reminded of their own natures as well, and it’s only once they have made peace with themselves that they can find happiness and be content in society. The real change in the story takes place within the perceptions of others: the townsfolk believe that Jerome is incapable of heroism because he is a small frog, and that the creatures plaguing them must be destroyed rather than reasoned with. Jerome changes these perceptions by staying true to himself, and this dedication to kindness and wisdom benefits himself and everyone around him.
Jerome Snyder’s illustrations are the principal highlight of Jerome (who of course shares his illustrator’s name). The kaleidoscopic colors evoke a Salvador Dali or Andy Warhol influence; the surreal, vibrant patterns and bold colors are distinctly reminiscent of the contemporary Pop Art movement. Several pages have especially memorable images, such as the dragon’s haze of pink smoke, Jerome’s vine-covered green castle, and the wizard’s colorful “flower child” memories. The characters are unnatural and often hideous, but it’s in keeping with the art style and story tone. With its rainbow color-fringing and exaggerated features, Snyder’s art is trippy, grotesque, and weird but strangely charming.
Jerome is an odd little children’s book, a definite product of its era with some values that have definitely stood the test of time. Ressner’s story almost feels like a variation on The Frog Prince fairytale, though I have yet to figure out how it connects to that story. Snyder’s illustrations and Ressner’s flair for the unusual make Jerome an imaginative, creative, and very, very weird little treat for kids.
Jerome, a frog content with his swamp and his flies, accidentally insults a witch, who gives him the dual blessing and curse of becoming a prince. Jerome travels to the nearest village to prove his princehood, and the villagers give him three plagues to deal with — a ravenous crow, a destructive dragon, and a fearsome wizard in a tower — in order to earn the title of prince. Jerome confronts each challenge with an attitude of common sense and understanding, and his heroic exploits win him the admiration of the townspeople, as well as a brilliant green castle and a swamp with all the flies he could ever want.
Ressner’s writing is humorous and ironic, though not particularly memorable. Jerome is set in a semi-mythical medieval Europe full of talking animals, dragons, witches, and wizards. Several of the motifs of the story — the slaying of a dragon by a prince, the ignorance of the townspeople, etc.— are reminiscent of classical medieval art and literature. Ressner uses a traditional fairytale storytelling structure (three tasks that a hero must complete) and even references Aesop’s Fables with the talking animals and common sense lessons. It is Jerome’s courage, self-confidence, and insight that helps him win his battles, and the theme of compromise without dishonor is one that befits the story nicely.
The witch’s spell on Jerome is an ambiguous one: she supposedly curses him to become a prince, but only good things come as a result of this curse. Ressner ponders what makes a prince and how a person’s identity can change as Jerome embarks on a series of quests to prove his worth as a prince. Interestingly, though the witch has apparently already turned Jerome into a prince, he has no real status as such until he has proven himself to the disbelieving townsfolk. Ressner leaves it ambiguous as to whether Jerome became a prince by doing princely deeds, or if he was able to accomplish the princely deeds because he was a prince. The witch’s curse seems to be more of a blessing, or even a spur for Jerome to discover something about himself that he didn’t know. Especially interesting is the fact that Jerome really does not undergo any character development; he’s already exactly who he needs and wants to be, and his journey in this book impacts everyone around him for the better. Jerome gets his happy ending and is content with reconciling his identity as a frog and a prince.
The central theme of Jerome seems to be the truth that creatures must be true to their own nature. Though Jerome ultimately proves that he is a prince — or at least a princely frog — he returns to his place in the pond, catching flies and enjoying life as a frog, as is his nature. The enemies he goes up against each have to be reminded of their own natures as well, and it’s only once they have made peace with themselves that they can find happiness and be content in society. The real change in the story takes place within the perceptions of others: the townsfolk believe that Jerome is incapable of heroism because he is a small frog, and that the creatures plaguing them must be destroyed rather than reasoned with. Jerome changes these perceptions by staying true to himself, and this dedication to kindness and wisdom benefits himself and everyone around him.
Jerome Snyder’s illustrations are the principal highlight of Jerome (who of course shares his illustrator’s name). The kaleidoscopic colors evoke a Salvador Dali or Andy Warhol influence; the surreal, vibrant patterns and bold colors are distinctly reminiscent of the contemporary Pop Art movement. Several pages have especially memorable images, such as the dragon’s haze of pink smoke, Jerome’s vine-covered green castle, and the wizard’s colorful “flower child” memories. The characters are unnatural and often hideous, but it’s in keeping with the art style and story tone. With its rainbow color-fringing and exaggerated features, Snyder’s art is trippy, grotesque, and weird but strangely charming.
Jerome is an odd little children’s book, a definite product of its era with some values that have definitely stood the test of time. Ressner’s story almost feels like a variation on The Frog Prince fairytale, though I have yet to figure out how it connects to that story. Snyder’s illustrations and Ressner’s flair for the unusual make Jerome an imaginative, creative, and very, very weird little treat for kids.
January 13, 2024
Jerome is awful wordy for a picture book, but my main problem with it is I'm pretty sure the illustrations creeped me out as a child. As an adult I think the story is good -- fun, interesting, and satisfying.
Part of: * When I was very young I believe my parents got a subscription to Parents Press Magazine books. They also got books from other sources. A key memory of childhood for me is the many children's picture books kept on the built-in shelves in our basement. Recently I put together a list of the ones I could find online and remember: Adele's Childhood Basement Picture Books My amazing husband found many of the physical books as a Christmas gift for me, so I am now seeing and re-reading the physical books for the first time in over twenty years. Be aware that most if not all of them will get an extra star from me for the incredible nostalgia.
Part of: * When I was very young I believe my parents got a subscription to Parents Press Magazine books. They also got books from other sources. A key memory of childhood for me is the many children's picture books kept on the built-in shelves in our basement. Recently I put together a list of the ones I could find online and remember: Adele's Childhood Basement Picture Books My amazing husband found many of the physical books as a Christmas gift for me, so I am now seeing and re-reading the physical books for the first time in over twenty years. Be aware that most if not all of them will get an extra star from me for the incredible nostalgia.
April 6, 2023
Jerome is a content and happy little frog who enjoys his pond and the flies he catches there, when one day he politely greets a witch who take umbrage with being called a witch, upon which she casts a crazy spell to turn little Jerome into a real-life PRINCE!
The colorful and slightly psychedelic illustrations by Jerome Prince are splendid, giving a very nostalgic feel for the time in which it was written.
The colorful and slightly psychedelic illustrations by Jerome Prince are splendid, giving a very nostalgic feel for the time in which it was written.
April 28, 2021
I found this book today in an antique shop after I sort of just vibed my way to it. Backstory: I love frogs so I instantly picked it up. I opened it up to see the cool illustrations. When I finally got time to read it this evening at home, I was not disappointed. Jerome is one cool peace frog.
January 5, 2023
Fantastic story of believing in yourself! Love that there is reference to “lions, tigers and whales”! And the expression “Faugh” is used by ridiculous pessimistic people. Great stylized illustrations full of color and expression!
Thank you Philip Ressner and Jerome Snyder
Thank you Philip Ressner and Jerome Snyder
January 29, 2020
This was my husband's childhood book that I read to the children.
February 16, 2024
Found this at a used book store , cute story
December 17, 2024
okay so, this probably doesn’t count as an actual read, but it was my favorite book as kid. <3
October 18, 2021
This book is full of incredibly groovy, psychedelic illustrations. They are so colorful and swirly and amazing. The story is very wordy (lots of words on the pages) about a frog who essentially believes he is a prince and so is able to do princely, wonderful things. But again, it's the illustrations. They are incredible!
October 21, 2009
Really pyscodelic 1960's children's book. LOL! So much color and a cute story. One of my favorites as a child. Great illustrations by Jerome Snyder.
February 20, 2010
Story: so-so
Illustrations: super cool
Illustrations: super cool
July 25, 2010
One my very favorite books when I was a kid - lots of psychedelic illustrations (very 1960's) - I can still picture some of the illustrations in my head...
April 9, 2015
There is a lot of story to this book, and not all of it is so compelling as to keep a little kid's interest. But the artwork is really cool.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews