Little Frog and the Spring Polliwogs

by Jane Yolen, Ellen Shi (Illustrations)

Little Frog — the feisty young heroine of Little Frog and the Scary Autumn Thing is on a new adventure. This time she's trying to stay a jump, or rather a lily pad, ahead of the spring polliwogs (brothers, sisters, and cousins of hers). They are SO much trouble. And because Little Frog likes being an "Only Frog," the tadpoles (as she's supposed to call them) just get in the way she. Little Frog is totally out of sorts.

But when that pollywog trouble becomes nothing compared to a real threat--boys with nets!!! — Little Frog has to remember all that she's been taught in order to save the tadpoles from disaster.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 11, 2017

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written 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 lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the art in this book was so beautiful and lovely. It really got me interested in spring again. It was well done.

The story is about Little Frog and there are all these pesky tadpoles in the water. Her parents have had more children. Little Frog is worried about having to share and not being the only frog in the family. In the end, so stands up for her siblings and protects them. She is glad to have them as part of the family. This is good for older siblings expecting a new baby and how life changes.

The kids enjoyed this one too. They got into the art.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Little Frog is not happy when she sees small dots darting through the water and making it muddy. “Brothers, sisters, cousins,” Mamma Frog says. That thought makes Little Frog feel even worse since she likes being Mamma and Papa Frog’s Only frog. She isn’t interested in sharing parents or pond space. In time Papa Frog tells Little Frog to start calling the small creatures tadpoles not polliwogs. When Little Frog asks Papa Frog where all the tadpoles will live, she’s told, “And alas, most of them will not become frogs.” Mama Frog says, “You are our Only . . .” And she sounds sad. As days go by the tadpoles thin out and there are only a handful of creatures now. But Little Frog still thinks even a few are too many. Will she ever change her mind?

Cons: It felt a little too sad to read to young children. *Spoiler Alert* All of the dots, later polliwogs, and eventually tadpoles thin out to just three. And even though it’s quite likely, I hated to see boys wearing red boots waiting with nets be the enemy.

Pros: The illustrations are appropriate for the text and seemed very child-friendly.

[Kathryn]

Yikes! Don't be fooled by the cute cover. Be sure you preview this if you have sensitive youngsters. I pretty much agree with everything this reviewer said, so I'll copy Debbie's review here so I don't reinvent the wheel:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Roben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Frog is not at all happy about the pesky little polliwogs that now inhabit HER pond. It makes no difference to her that these are brothers, sisters, and cousins -- she wants the pond all to herself! Though she doesn't mind sharing too much with her mother and father. And maybe her aunt and uncle. But absolutely NO polliwogs - or Tadpoles, as her father insists she call them. She wants them gone! Until she realizes that would make her mom and dad pretty sad.
While I like the general premise of the book, I found it a bit confusing and even potentially disturbing. Though I doubt the preschool - K crowd will have that reaction. People are the bad guys in this one - specifically little boys wearing red boots and carrying big nets. Fortunately Little Frog manages to save the day for at least three of her sibling tadpoles.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about an only child who is VERY HAPPY thank you very much, who suddenly has a whole bunch of younger siblings to look after. Throughout the course of the book, the number gets whittled down to three (with no explanation - probably best for the little ones) and Little Frog finally starts feeling the sibling love.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a better book for one on one sharing than my needs of a story time book. The reason I say this is because at one point it mentions how the tadpoles all won't make it to being a frog. Obviously a little harsh reality for kids is good but I don't want to be the one to tell them during preschool story time!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little frog is annoyed by all the new tadpoles in the pond. he doesn't want new siblings. It's cute little frog doesn't get these will be his siblings but knows mama loves them. Completely relatable feelings for kids getting a new sibling preschool and up.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little frog felt all the polliwogs (tadpoles) in the pond were annoying and in her way. She liked being an Only, not having to share her space. One day she realized it was lonely being alone, and then there was danger to the tadpoles. She had to do something to warn them.

[Casandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Frog finds the spring polliwogs annoying. She does a lot of moping until she realizes that they are fragile little siblings after all.

[Olivia S · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this story at all. The pictures are kind of cute, but the story is wordy and awkward and overdone.

[Peninnah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parents who have lost a child should know that Little Frog is an Only.

[Elvira · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story of the cycle from tadpoles to frogs and the fear of welcoming a new sibling.

[Ashlin Edmisten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for new/older siblings. It is cute (both the narrative and the illustrations) and relatable. As always, Yolen's writing is top-notch.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story of Little Frog and the new polliwogs that are making his pond their home.

[Karen Rosas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was created for teachers. The book can be used for multiple lesson plans and read alouds. It presents itself like a counting book for math, science, and it gives great character build up. The Little frog is relatable to children in a multi-member home. This takes the time to explain sibling rivalry. The book used key vocabulary for scientific method of the frog cycle. The illustration are clear and colorful with an accent in the Little Frog's scarf. The words on the page move with the tone of voice of the characters.

[Viviane Elbee]

Although this is a fictional story, it introduces children to the very real fact that most tadpoles (the younger siblings of the main character) do not live to become frogs. Illustrations are beautiful.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

frogs, siblings, new sibling

[Valencia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a sweet book once again. I love Jane Yolen's books. They are such sweet stories.

[Joyce Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the action and story line as Little Frog grows in unselfishness. Love frogs eating shoo-fly pie!

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely and lyrical and the pictures are delightful! I enjoyed this sweet read.

[Storytime Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

“But now, dozens of little long-tailed dark doors dated through the water, muddying the green. ‘Brothers, sisters, cousins,’ Mama Frog called them. Trouble, thought Little Frog.”
❤️ The artwork is cute
💫 I wish it either had more or less science info. It’s vague enough to be confusing as it is. The story is really about a child struggling with the idea of letting more siblings into her family, but the mix of human emotions and frog life statics (more and more tadpoles are gone each day and she don’t know were they went) that it leaves me with a paranoia of kidnapping more than a reminder of the the joys of a growing family 😅
📆 I’d probably use this book if your child is nervous about having a new sibling.

Check out StorytimeCorner.com to see our favorites grouped by time of year/theme we’d recommend reading them.

My Ranking System:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I absolutely love everything about the book and would buy it
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I love the book but there are enough “wishes” that I wouldn’t buy it but I’d definitely check it out again
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’m glad I read it once but it is a one time read and never again
⭐️⭐️ I was bored and wish I had the time back that I spent reading it
⭐️ I really didn’t like it and would advise people NOT to read it

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting sibling book that pairs some life cycle information about frogs. The illustrations are colorful and the crayon letters on the front make it fitting for children.

[Christine Turner]

Little Frog is trying to stay a jump, or rather a lily pad, ahead of the spring polliwogs (brothers, sisters, and cousins of hers). They are SO much trouble. And because Little Frog likes being an "Only Frog," the tadpoles (as she's supposed to call them) just get in the way she. Little Frog is totally out of sorts. But when that pollywog trouble becomes nothing compared to a real threat Little Frog has to remember all that she's been taught in order to save the tadpoles from disaster.

This charmer of a sequel is by multi-award winning author Jane Yolen, author of On Bird Hill , OWL MOON and the HOW DO DINOSAURS books. The wonderful spring palette and adorable pictures are by illustrator of the first Little Frog , Ellen Shi .

Subject: Frogs -- Juvenile fiction.
Tadpoles -- Juvenile fiction.
Brothers and sisters -- Juvenile fiction.
Families -- Juvenile fiction.