Little Frog and the Scary Autumn Thing

by Jane Yolen, Ellen Shi (Illustrations)

It’s Little Frog’s first autumn, and she doesn’t like it one bit. It is not the green world she loves so much, but something scarier and ominous, filled with red and gold and yellow. And noise! WHIRRRRR. CHIRRRR. BAROOOOOOM. But encouraged by her Mama, who reminds her that "Most things that are scary are just new," Little Frog bravely sets out into this world. When her courage waivers, she starts to run and soon is lost, miserably lost. She finds her way to Papa Frog and he shows her what Mama Frog means.

In a warm and satisfying ending:

At last, arm in arm,
Little Frog and Papa Frog
happily hopped and danced
all the way home to The Pond
where Mama Frog had made
a fresh shoo-fly pie for dinner,
something all three of them knew well.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Autumn, Nature, Family, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 13, 2016

About the author

Jane Yolen was a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who wrote more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lived in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Calista]

Little Frog loves the green of spring and summer. Now that it’s autumn, all the leaves are turning colors and that scares her. She doesn’t like it and she misses what made her feel safe. Her mom and dad both encourage her to face her fears and so she does eventually. It is scary along the way, but she ends up finding the beauty and fun in the new season.

This is a great book on facing your fears. It’s a great reminder for me at this moment as all my life is changing once again. It’s great for the kids too who have plenty of fears even if they say they aren’t scared during the day.

The niece was in the mood for a story and she appreciated this one. Sometimes she can face her fears and sometimes she needs some help. She liked Little Frog a lot and she was glad to see her face her fears. She gave this 4 stars. The nephew wondered what was so scary about colored leaves and why that would be scary. “What’s so scary about leaves, they’re just leaves?” He thought frog was stupid and he gave this 2 stars. He’s gotten opinionated lately.

A great beginning book. I love the colors and the artwork here. It’s a beautiful book.

[Linda Lipko]

Jane Yolen is one of my favorite authors. When I saw this illustrated book, I had to bring it home from the library.
It is a cute tale of a frog who is experiencing fall for the very first time. Afraid of any color but green, he gingerly, hesitantly hops from green to orange, to yellow, to read pads along the water.

Hearing the sound of his father in the distance is incentive to put fear aside and find where his papa is among the colors.

[Elaine]

Beautiful illustrations and a cute story of bravery and trying new things!

[Wendy Kuzma]

This would be a good read aloud for early elementary. Cute story about overcoming fear and the changing of the seasons.

[Baby Bookworm]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Today’s book is Little Frog And The Scary Autumn Thing, written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Ellen Shi, a wonderful tale that uses the change of seasons as a metaphor for how to handle changes in our lives.

Little Frog loves the color green. It’s her very favorite color, and all her favorite things are green: her family, her lily pad, even her own self. So when the trees of her forest begin to turn from green to brand new colors, like red and yellow and orange and even – gasp! – purple, Little Frog feels nervous. Maybe even afraid. But Mama Frog and Papa Frog are here to help her overcome her fears, and learn that change is simply a part of life, and in change can be found new joys, fun experiences, and even familiar comforts.

In a book written by Jane Yolen, you’re almost expecting a wonderful story, and this one fits the bill. On the surface, it’s a sweet tale about the change of seasons, but Yolen layers in some truly lovely messages about the anxieties we all have about big changes (yes, all – even Papa Frog shows nervousness of the purple leaves). There’s an especially clever moment when, being brave and trying to explore her changing world, Little Frog ends up falling and scraping her knee, and the story stops to focus on it. It’s a small yet meaningful detail, showing that sometimes change is especially hard at first, even painful. The art is beautiful, capturing both the fall colors and the mood of the Frog family perfectly. The length is good, edging on long for tiny bookworms, but JJ enjoyed it very much. This was a well-crafted parable that had a lot to enjoy, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Villain E]

Little Frog is about to experience her first autumn. When things start changing from various shades of green to reds, oranges, and yellows, she gets scared. Her parents encourage her to go into the woods and experience the colors up close, which just makes her more nervous.

As someone who prefers the greens spring and summer to the reds and yellows of fall, I was hoping to like this book more. But I don't think that the artist made the best choices in which parts of the narration he chose to illustrate, usually the easiest image rather than the most dynamic.

Also, if Little Frog is afraid of warm colors, why does she have a red scarf?

[Juliana Lee]

Little Frog has only known green in his short little life. And now everything was turning yellow, red, and orange and worst of all... purple! Things were scratchy and scary. But Mama Frog told him things were only scary because they were new. And Papa Frog told him new things could be fun. So when Little Frog tries the new yellow, red, and orange, and yes even the purple he finds that they are not so scary after all and yes even fun!

[Viviane Elbee]

I loved the illustrations, as did the kids. The kids said, "5 stars for the pictures!"

Jane Yolen writes beautifully; she has a lovely lyrical style.

The book is on the long side, so it's better suited for older preschoolers and elementary students.

This story comes with a lesson - "most things that are scary are only just new." It's a topic for discussion.

This book can also be used to discuss the Fall season.

[Eileen Carter]

This book is perfect for any child who is scared to try something new. It is the perfect blend between a fairy story and a story with purpose. The illustrations are wonderful. Children will enjoy the bright colors of the books as well as enjoy the adventure little frog goes one.
As a teacher this book can be used at various times, autumn, feeling, colors, just to name a few. It is a wonderful story for families to enjoy together.

[Vicki]

This book could help children deal with new things. It's also about frogs and autumn.

The cover invites you to open up this book to see what's inside-in my opinion it may be the best part of the book.

[Whole And]

A sweet tale about a little frog experiences fall for the first time and is scared. With the help of his parents he becomes brave and finds the music in the fall sounds and what's familiar to him no longer feeling afraid. More about bravery than science but sweet non the less.

[Tracie]

New things scare Little Frog and he is sure he will not like autumn. Mama and Papa Frog both help her see that getting to know new things makes them less scary.

[Bitsy Snyder]

Little Frog isn't sure about all the new colors that show up with fall, but spending a day with Papa Frog in the woods might just change her mind on a few of them.

[Lulu]

Nicely illustrated. Cute story to teach kid about trying new things and bravery.

[Kimberly]

Very cute! Loved the illustrations. Silly frog, do not be afraid of purple! Purple is the best! :)

[Hanna McCown]

Beautiful watercolors help to tell the story.
There are still a lot of words but it is very interesting.
Illustrated by Ellen Shi

[Lynn Davidson]

Little Frog was afraid of the change of autumn, and any colours that weren't green. She had to find a way to be brave just as Mama Frog told her.

[Erin]

New is sometimes scary, but it doesn't have to be.

[Michelle]

Little frog experiences Autumn for the first time, the sounds are different and his family helps him understands that new things can be scary at first!

[DiAnne Warfield]

PJ story time 7-24-2019
PJ story time 9-25-19

[Hallie Jackson]

What happens: Little frog is new to the world. She's only ever known summer and greenness. The strangeness of fall is scary and unfamiliar. We follow her on her journey as she learns to accept change and experiences new things.

The good: Little frog is adorable. She's hesitant without being too annoyingly irrational. Little Frog is likely someone that apprehensive kiddos will feel that they can relate to. The story itself is pretty interesting. It's fun to watch Little Frog experience new things and there's just the right amount of tension provided by the back and forth emotions of new discovery that things don't seem stale or disingenuous. The illustrations are, for me, the standout good thing about this book. The majority are full page, with white space utilized in a way that aids the narrative without seeming arbitrary. I loved the use of warm, rich colors in a picture book about fall.

The not so good: Put simply, I think the text is too long and the repetition of ideas is done in a way that feels more like Yolen was trying to meet a word count and less like she was trying to tell an impactful story.

3 stars.

[Evianrei]

Nice illustrations! The story was alright. I liked the message behind it but the ending fell a tad flat. Probably one we'll check out from time to time but I'm not sure I'd grab a copy for my children's home collection.

About a Little Frog who is afraid of Autumn and the colors Red, Yellow, Orange, and Purple. Her family helps her learn that just because things are new doesn't mean that they are scary.

My 8 month old son liked the visuals in this, might re-review it here in another view months to see what he thinks then!

[Amanda]

Liked it better than I thought I would. (When I first saw the cover I intensely and irrationally disliked it; yep, I will admit that I judged a book by its cover!)

Poor color purple (especially), and orange, and red, and gold, they just get shafted in this, but the message comes through that new things aren't necessarily scary, just new. It's just a bit of a long book and it takes a while to get there.

[Jillian]

"To Little Frog, red and gold were scary. They were the colors of hot sun and cold blood."
Little Frog is wearing a bright red scarf.

Other than that small nitpick, it was a decent story. The recurring theme of "most things that are scary are just new" is a good one to share with little kids, especially the ones who are balking at a new experience that will (probably) be pleasurable.

[Joyce Ellis]

Lovely, warm, calming family story about a young frog who explores the unfamiliar, scary world of autumn but learns that just because something is new doesn't mean it's something to fear. Great transferable concept for young children. Illustrations match the tone and feel of the text beautifully and creatively.

[Suebee]

So boring and repetitive. I know Jane Yolen is a legend, but I can't figure out why this one was published. Sigh.

[Valencia]

This book is a very sweet story to read for the younger crowd and even older preschoolers. Jane Yolen always comes up with such cute and special stories.

[The Christian School Librarian]

Little Frog is used to everything being green. So when her green home begins to change to Autumn colors she does not like it at first. But, eventually she realizes that autumn colors can be beautiful, she can be brave, and that change is not scary just new.

My Opinion: Cute story!
Theme/Topics: Frogs, Autumn, Fall, Changing of the Seasons, Changing colors of the Leaves, Facing your Fears.
Clean or Inappropriate: Clean
Age Group: K4
Kids Response: This book had their full attention. Some of the kids even kept saying "And Brown" because they book left out that some leaves turn brown in the autumn. It was cute and funny.

[Jenna]

Little Frog and the Scary Autumn Thing

Charming and sweet, this story follows Little Frog as she confronts her first autumn and all the ways it is both unknown and unfamiliar, and nothing more so than the red, yellow…orange….and purple.
The story takes the reader alongside Little Frog as she tries to be brave and venture into the unknown and serves as a valuable reminder that most things that are scary are only just new, and once you know them, they aren’t scary anymore.

[A Allen]

Felt like a lot of text for very little story, if you ask me. Little frog is not sure about autumn and all the scary changes, but she eventually decides things are just new, not scary. I don't hate the book but I wouldn't recommend it. The catalyst for Little Frog changing her mind is not as clear as I would have liked. There are a lot of other books available in which a similar lesson is conveyed, but more clearly.