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Pokko and the Drum
From E.B. White Read Aloud honor artist Matthew Forsythe comes a picture book about a magical drum, an emerald forest, and the little frog who dares to make her own music.
The biggest mistake Pokko’s parents ever made was giving her the drum. When Pokko takes the drum deep into the forest it is so quiet, so very quiet that Pokko decides to play. And before she knows it she is joined by a band of animals —first the raccoon, then the rabbit, then the wolf—and soon the entire forest is following her. Will Pokko hear her father’s voice when he calls her home?
Pokko and the Drum is a story about art, persistence, and a family of frogs living in a mushroom.
The biggest mistake Pokko’s parents ever made was giving her the drum. When Pokko takes the drum deep into the forest it is so quiet, so very quiet that Pokko decides to play. And before she knows it she is joined by a band of animals —first the raccoon, then the rabbit, then the wolf—and soon the entire forest is following her. Will Pokko hear her father’s voice when he calls her home?
Pokko and the Drum is a story about art, persistence, and a family of frogs living in a mushroom.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2019
12 people are currently reading
1280 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Forsythe
21 books162 followersMatthew Forsythe is an author and illustrator living in Los Angeles.
His first book, Pokko and the Drum, won the Charlotte Zolotow Honor for picture book writing and his second book, MINA, was a Governor General Awards finalist.
He was also a designer on several animated shows including Adventure Time, The Midnight Gospel and the Oscar-nominated film, Robin Robin.
His first book, Pokko and the Drum, won the Charlotte Zolotow Honor for picture book writing and his second book, MINA, was a Governor General Awards finalist.
He was also a designer on several animated shows including Adventure Time, The Midnight Gospel and the Oscar-nominated film, Robin Robin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 419 reviews
August 9, 2019
Matthew Forsythe did not attend art school. Ask him where he learned his stuff and he’ll recommend that you read High Focus Drawing by James McMullen. He’s worked on picture books before, lots of them, but until now he’s never written and illustrated one himself.
Matthew Forsythe has been holding out on us.
Every once in a while I encounter a picture book that gives me so much to chew on that I have to put it down for a while and come back to it after a few weeks. The theory is that when I do this all the little bits and pieces will fall into place and make sense to me. However, when I came back to Pokko and the Drum I found that here was a picture book that required multiple rereadings. There’s something going on in this book. A wry, whipsmart, funny tale that actually may have a thing or two to say about female empowerment. Or not? It’s easy to read too much into this book, but I’d say it’s also just as easy to read into it everything that you need it to be. Intelligent writing for kids that will not just appeal but engage and entice. This, we need more of.
It’s not that Pokko’s parents haven’t screwed up before. They’re a kindly frog couple but when it comes to giving gifts they have an odd tendency to hand their daughter presents that may not always be appropriate. This time, they’ve given her a drum. Pokko likes her drum. She likes to play it. She likes to play it so much that one day her father has her go outside to play, but softly. Pokko goes, but soon her drumming (which is not soft) attracts a crowd of musical followers. The crazy thing about Pokko and her drumming? She’s really good! And even her dad and mom will have to come around to that fact, one way or another.
Every summer I teach a six-month writing class to teens at my library and one of the topics I always make sure to cover is the opening sentence. In a book of any sort, whether it’s a YA novel or a comic, that first sentence should be carefully considered. To prove my point I’ll wheel in a big truck of advanced reader galleys of young adult titles and we’ll have fun comparing and contrasting their first sentences. But until I read Pokko and the Drum I’d never seriously considered the possibility of looking at the first sentences of picture books as well. Yet the first sentence of a picture book is, in many ways, of even greater importance than that of a novel because in a book that’s only 32, 40, or even 64 pages, every word counts. That’s why it’s such a delight to open Pokko and find yourself greeted by, “The biggest mistake Pokko’s parents ever made was giving her a drum,” followed by, “They had made mistakes before.” It sets the tone for the entire book. A tone that, happily, is matched by the art, step by step, blow by blow.
Matthew Forsythe is Canadian by all accounts. He has, however, worked in Dublin, London, Seoul, and L.A. And, in a bit news that snaggled my brain good and hard, he apparently was the lead designer on the Cartoon Network’s much lauded show Adventure Time. Of all the facts that I have written here, perhaps that one is the most pertinent to Pokko. You see, there is a sensibility to this book that causes it to stand apart from the massive pack of picture books published in a given year. It’s hard to pinpoint, but if I had to give a name to it I’d have to say that the book feels like it was steeped in wry, British humor, pacing, and timing. The jokes, which land every time, are often of a visual nature. It is funny to see a small frog on a llama. It is funnier to eventually notice that the llama is lying on two pairs of frog legs, evidently squished beneath. Humor that works in such a way that both kids and parents get it and love it is exceedingly difficult to attain. This book does it so easily, it feels like it’s not even trying that hard.
The book has a beautiful mastery of deadpan that should probably be studied by future generations on how to do it right. First off, let’s examine Pokko herself. Forsythe has summarily rejected the Arnold Lobel method of froggy eyeballs and given his heroine round rather than horizontal pupils. He has also given her a face that remains almost expressionless throughout the story. I say “almost” because at critical moments there are two things that can occur when Forsythe zeroes in on a frog’s face. The first time that this happens is when we learn that the forest Pokko walks through is quiet. “Too quiet”. Suddenly the image that fills the page is Pokko’s face in close-up, her eyelids half-closed in a look of, not fear, but some kind of skeptical breakdown of the fourth wall. She’s clearly looking right at the reader and saying, on some level, “Oh, please.” The second time we get a similar close-up it happens with Pokko’s father. He hears the music outside growing louder. “And louder”. Compare this shot of the father in the second shot to the first. Do you see the difference? It’s subtle but Forsythe has taken what appears to be a black colored pencil and swiped a bag under the father’s eye. That single, solitary line says more than a page of words ever could. One little swipe. A world of sorrow.
For all that the humor feels very contemporary, there are some ancient tropes at work on these pages. Consider the fact that the inciting incident in this book is that Pokko enters the woods. The woods, traditionally (as Stephen Sondheim would be the first to tell you), are where the darkness and danger lie in wait for you. When your hero is warned of something, as Pokko is warned not to play her drum loudly outside because “we don’t like drawing attention to ourselves”, and that warning is disregarded, you expect punishment. And woodlands are good places to dole out such punishments. So without so much as hinting at a villain or antagonist, Forsythe is using kids’ innate understanding of storytelling rules to heighten the tension.
But let me just stop a moment here and let you in on something else that I’ve noticed about this book. After an initial read I liked it very much but I found myself vaguely wondering, “But what is it really about?” If it wasn’t about anything, why did I like it so much? So I went back to it and examined it a little more closely. Pokko is a female frog, first off. She enjoys making a lot of noise. Her father urges her to go outside but to be quiet. So the female child does so, but soon she makes a big ruckus. When she does so she inadvertently becomes a leader. Other animals follow her. Making music, sure, but following just the same. Now look at what happens when the wolf, who is following in the back, eats the rabbit playing the trumpet. Instantly, Pokko is having none of that. My daughter, who is eight, wondered why the wolf's appetite was placed in the book at all and my initial thinking was that it was just there to be cheeky. But then I took a closer look and saw that here you have a female character leading. One of her followers acts inappropriately and instead of ignoring it or shying away, she confronts it dead on and reads it the riot act. “No more eating band members or you’re out of the band.” Because, you see, Pokko knows perfectly well that a follower that eats your other followers may just be biding its time until it bites at you as well. The end of the book finishes with her parents being swept along with the others and her father, who initially told her to be a good quiet girl, realizing that she’s really good at what she does. Now I don’t want to say that Forsythe wrote this with the intention of making some kind of commentary on girl leaders, but I’m not not saying it either. In this book, the frog persists.
Is it odd that I keep looking at Forsythe’s art, trying desperately to find somewhere between the lines an explanation of why his style works as well as it does? I’ve read interviews with him and letters of advice he’s given to other artists. It doesn’t help much. So I try reading the words that other reviewers have written about him, but they appear to be just as stumped as I am. They call his art “glowing” evoking “lush elegance” and that his images are “tapestrylike”. The word that comes closest to what I want to say is that overused term “luminous” which is close but not quite right. “Luminous” implies gentleness, but what Forsythe is wielding here isn’t gentle. Or, at the very least, it isn’t ignorant of that skinny sliver of darkness that underlies even the sunniest day.
After reading this book to my kids, I tried to explain to my daughter why I liked it so much. “I like it when authors take risks.” Well, what did I mean by that? “I mean . . . a lot of what the author (who is also the artist) is doing here isn’t … safe, I guess. This book doesn’t go in a predictable direction. It doesn’t assume you know where it’s going to end and make you feel good by fulfilling that expectation.” She didn’t know what I meant and, frankly, maybe I didn’t either. All I know is that this is a book that leaves wide open the very real potential for tragedy, but instead ends up making its heroine stronger than ever. “And you know what?” her father says at the end of her book. “I think she’s pretty good.” I think this book is pretty good too. And I think all the kids who read it will think it's pretty good too.
For ages 5-8
Matthew Forsythe has been holding out on us.
Every once in a while I encounter a picture book that gives me so much to chew on that I have to put it down for a while and come back to it after a few weeks. The theory is that when I do this all the little bits and pieces will fall into place and make sense to me. However, when I came back to Pokko and the Drum I found that here was a picture book that required multiple rereadings. There’s something going on in this book. A wry, whipsmart, funny tale that actually may have a thing or two to say about female empowerment. Or not? It’s easy to read too much into this book, but I’d say it’s also just as easy to read into it everything that you need it to be. Intelligent writing for kids that will not just appeal but engage and entice. This, we need more of.
It’s not that Pokko’s parents haven’t screwed up before. They’re a kindly frog couple but when it comes to giving gifts they have an odd tendency to hand their daughter presents that may not always be appropriate. This time, they’ve given her a drum. Pokko likes her drum. She likes to play it. She likes to play it so much that one day her father has her go outside to play, but softly. Pokko goes, but soon her drumming (which is not soft) attracts a crowd of musical followers. The crazy thing about Pokko and her drumming? She’s really good! And even her dad and mom will have to come around to that fact, one way or another.
Every summer I teach a six-month writing class to teens at my library and one of the topics I always make sure to cover is the opening sentence. In a book of any sort, whether it’s a YA novel or a comic, that first sentence should be carefully considered. To prove my point I’ll wheel in a big truck of advanced reader galleys of young adult titles and we’ll have fun comparing and contrasting their first sentences. But until I read Pokko and the Drum I’d never seriously considered the possibility of looking at the first sentences of picture books as well. Yet the first sentence of a picture book is, in many ways, of even greater importance than that of a novel because in a book that’s only 32, 40, or even 64 pages, every word counts. That’s why it’s such a delight to open Pokko and find yourself greeted by, “The biggest mistake Pokko’s parents ever made was giving her a drum,” followed by, “They had made mistakes before.” It sets the tone for the entire book. A tone that, happily, is matched by the art, step by step, blow by blow.
Matthew Forsythe is Canadian by all accounts. He has, however, worked in Dublin, London, Seoul, and L.A. And, in a bit news that snaggled my brain good and hard, he apparently was the lead designer on the Cartoon Network’s much lauded show Adventure Time. Of all the facts that I have written here, perhaps that one is the most pertinent to Pokko. You see, there is a sensibility to this book that causes it to stand apart from the massive pack of picture books published in a given year. It’s hard to pinpoint, but if I had to give a name to it I’d have to say that the book feels like it was steeped in wry, British humor, pacing, and timing. The jokes, which land every time, are often of a visual nature. It is funny to see a small frog on a llama. It is funnier to eventually notice that the llama is lying on two pairs of frog legs, evidently squished beneath. Humor that works in such a way that both kids and parents get it and love it is exceedingly difficult to attain. This book does it so easily, it feels like it’s not even trying that hard.
The book has a beautiful mastery of deadpan that should probably be studied by future generations on how to do it right. First off, let’s examine Pokko herself. Forsythe has summarily rejected the Arnold Lobel method of froggy eyeballs and given his heroine round rather than horizontal pupils. He has also given her a face that remains almost expressionless throughout the story. I say “almost” because at critical moments there are two things that can occur when Forsythe zeroes in on a frog’s face. The first time that this happens is when we learn that the forest Pokko walks through is quiet. “Too quiet”. Suddenly the image that fills the page is Pokko’s face in close-up, her eyelids half-closed in a look of, not fear, but some kind of skeptical breakdown of the fourth wall. She’s clearly looking right at the reader and saying, on some level, “Oh, please.” The second time we get a similar close-up it happens with Pokko’s father. He hears the music outside growing louder. “And louder”. Compare this shot of the father in the second shot to the first. Do you see the difference? It’s subtle but Forsythe has taken what appears to be a black colored pencil and swiped a bag under the father’s eye. That single, solitary line says more than a page of words ever could. One little swipe. A world of sorrow.
For all that the humor feels very contemporary, there are some ancient tropes at work on these pages. Consider the fact that the inciting incident in this book is that Pokko enters the woods. The woods, traditionally (as Stephen Sondheim would be the first to tell you), are where the darkness and danger lie in wait for you. When your hero is warned of something, as Pokko is warned not to play her drum loudly outside because “we don’t like drawing attention to ourselves”, and that warning is disregarded, you expect punishment. And woodlands are good places to dole out such punishments. So without so much as hinting at a villain or antagonist, Forsythe is using kids’ innate understanding of storytelling rules to heighten the tension.
But let me just stop a moment here and let you in on something else that I’ve noticed about this book. After an initial read I liked it very much but I found myself vaguely wondering, “But what is it really about?” If it wasn’t about anything, why did I like it so much? So I went back to it and examined it a little more closely. Pokko is a female frog, first off. She enjoys making a lot of noise. Her father urges her to go outside but to be quiet. So the female child does so, but soon she makes a big ruckus. When she does so she inadvertently becomes a leader. Other animals follow her. Making music, sure, but following just the same. Now look at what happens when the wolf, who is following in the back, eats the rabbit playing the trumpet. Instantly, Pokko is having none of that. My daughter, who is eight, wondered why the wolf's appetite was placed in the book at all and my initial thinking was that it was just there to be cheeky. But then I took a closer look and saw that here you have a female character leading. One of her followers acts inappropriately and instead of ignoring it or shying away, she confronts it dead on and reads it the riot act. “No more eating band members or you’re out of the band.” Because, you see, Pokko knows perfectly well that a follower that eats your other followers may just be biding its time until it bites at you as well. The end of the book finishes with her parents being swept along with the others and her father, who initially told her to be a good quiet girl, realizing that she’s really good at what she does. Now I don’t want to say that Forsythe wrote this with the intention of making some kind of commentary on girl leaders, but I’m not not saying it either. In this book, the frog persists.
Is it odd that I keep looking at Forsythe’s art, trying desperately to find somewhere between the lines an explanation of why his style works as well as it does? I’ve read interviews with him and letters of advice he’s given to other artists. It doesn’t help much. So I try reading the words that other reviewers have written about him, but they appear to be just as stumped as I am. They call his art “glowing” evoking “lush elegance” and that his images are “tapestrylike”. The word that comes closest to what I want to say is that overused term “luminous” which is close but not quite right. “Luminous” implies gentleness, but what Forsythe is wielding here isn’t gentle. Or, at the very least, it isn’t ignorant of that skinny sliver of darkness that underlies even the sunniest day.
After reading this book to my kids, I tried to explain to my daughter why I liked it so much. “I like it when authors take risks.” Well, what did I mean by that? “I mean . . . a lot of what the author (who is also the artist) is doing here isn’t … safe, I guess. This book doesn’t go in a predictable direction. It doesn’t assume you know where it’s going to end and make you feel good by fulfilling that expectation.” She didn’t know what I meant and, frankly, maybe I didn’t either. All I know is that this is a book that leaves wide open the very real potential for tragedy, but instead ends up making its heroine stronger than ever. “And you know what?” her father says at the end of her book. “I think she’s pretty good.” I think this book is pretty good too. And I think all the kids who read it will think it's pretty good too.
For ages 5-8
March 18, 2020
I love the beautiful watercolors in this story. We see our main frog Pokko and she starts out walking and playing her drum. It’s a full page spread with a hint of water color in the corner and as she begins to play louder with more confidence, the color spreads until there is a whole forest of color. It’s lovely.
Parents buy Pokko a drum. It’s loud. They tell her to play outside and so she basically starts a parade, leading the animals of the forest. The wolf does eat a bunny, but there are no consequences. It’s the most out of place piece. Pokko says, if you eat someone else, you are out of the band. Problem solved. The rest of the book is upbeat. I thought that little thing was weird. Like, that’s all that’s said. Strange.
The nephew said the story wasn’t bad, but until the parade of animals at the end, not alot happens. He is a man of action and he wants his action. He likes characters too, but he likes action. He gave this 3 stars.
Parents buy Pokko a drum. It’s loud. They tell her to play outside and so she basically starts a parade, leading the animals of the forest. The wolf does eat a bunny, but there are no consequences. It’s the most out of place piece. Pokko says, if you eat someone else, you are out of the band. Problem solved. The rest of the book is upbeat. I thought that little thing was weird. Like, that’s all that’s said. Strange.
The nephew said the story wasn’t bad, but until the parade of animals at the end, not alot happens. He is a man of action and he wants his action. He likes characters too, but he likes action. He gave this 3 stars.
January 28, 2020
First rule of parenting: Never give your child a drum
Second rule of parenting: If you break rule number one do not be surprised if your child comes home one day with a veritable parade of musicians and music fans who carry you bodily from your home while you are in the middle of making dinner and/or trying to finish your book.
Because that's what happens here and its WONDERFUL.
Second rule of parenting: If you break rule number one do not be surprised if your child comes home one day with a veritable parade of musicians and music fans who carry you bodily from your home while you are in the middle of making dinner and/or trying to finish your book.
Because that's what happens here and its WONDERFUL.
May 21, 2025
The watercolors yes, pokko the frog yes, a stunning story of persistence with a sprinkle of shock and uncertainty also yes , and crazy enough Matthew was able to check all those boxes and more in writing this incredible children’s book that is just as strong and profound as it is simple to understand and swallow. I think his art style like Eric carle’s is just so welcoming and warm that your excited to turn the next page with your little one. I can’t wait to peak through my library’s collection of his other books to see what other whimsical family friendly tales he’s crafted and given unto the world. 4.25/5
September 27, 2019
There is quite a bit of funniness for the adults - and the kids too, I guess - as well lovely illustrations, quirkinesses, gender role reversals, and a loud loud drum.
If you like Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett you will also love this as the illustrations and storyline are similar and absolutely stunning.
If you like Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett you will also love this as the illustrations and storyline are similar and absolutely stunning.
November 17, 2019
Perhaps one of the most beautiful picture books ever created. Not exaggerating. I have had a long career in children's literature and I know my stuff! The book almost appears to have light emanating from it. So gorgeous. It is funny as all heck (the rabbit in the book might not think so), and kids will adore it. Note to the author- bring back the rabbit in a sequel! Find a clever way to do it. It will be awesome!
Read
July 18, 2019I feel like the #1 rule of parenting is probably "Never give your kid a drum," but that's exactly what Pokko's parents do, and the results are... Not what you would expect! Beautifully-illustrated and chock-full of deadpan humor and musical community, POKKO is a magical ode to marching to the beat of your own drum.
August 29, 2021
I love this book SO MUCH! The characters’ expressions are so hilarious - and I love that Pokko’s father is wearing an apron and cooking dinner while her mother reads a book!
January 16, 2020
My favorite part of this book (other than the lush illustrations, spunky lead character and well-placed page turns) is the fact that the dad is making dinner and the mom is reading her book. It sounds like my house.
November 21, 2019
Caldecott. Calling it.
August 16, 2022
Sin duda mi cuento favorito de los que leí en mi semana de cuentos en catalán. ¡Es sobre una familia de ranas que viven en una seta! Desde el principio sabía que sería maravilloso. Los colores son super bonitos, todos "earthy", y sobre todo el humor es graciosísimo. ¡Me encantó todo!
Palabras aprendidas:
L’endemà: Al día siguiente
Granotes: Ranas
Bolet: Seta
Maragda: Esmeralda
Bellugar: Mover
Os rentador: Mapache
Afegir-se: Incorporarse
Debò: Verdad
Gaudir: Disfrutar
Endur: Llevar
Palabras aprendidas:
L’endemà: Al día siguiente
Granotes: Ranas
Bolet: Seta
Maragda: Esmeralda
Bellugar: Mover
Os rentador: Mapache
Afegir-se: Incorporarse
Debò: Verdad
Gaudir: Disfrutar
Endur: Llevar
Read
November 17, 2023Een vastberaden kikkermeisje ramt op de trommel of haar leven ervan af hangt. Haar ouders hebben al snel spijt van het cadeau en sturen haar naar buiten. Bijzonder en grappig prentenboek, dat we bespreken in de 29ste Grote Vriendelijke Podcast. Luister wat we ervan vonden via Spotify, je podcast-app of http://www.degrotevriendelijkepodcast...
December 27, 2019
Pokko is my new hero.
April 25, 2023
Probably the best looking book Matthew Forsythe has done to date. The story is a simple one, Pokko's parents regret giving Pokko a drum that he bangs on constantly. Pokko goes on a walk, banging his drum, and eventually gets a band to follow him and then a large audience. It seems his parent's are proud of him in the end.
February 8, 2023
A coworker said this reminded her of me and upon seeing the cover I had never been more flattered.
And folks? This is a lovely hysterical little picture book. I love Pokko, I love frogs, I love drums, I love this book. Wonderful illustrations, too. What a winner.
And folks? This is a lovely hysterical little picture book. I love Pokko, I love frogs, I love drums, I love this book. Wonderful illustrations, too. What a winner.
February 1, 2020
I embrace the annual ALA Youth Media Awards each year because it draws my attention to outstanding books that have somehow missed my attention during the year. This is one of those, and I adored the exuberant Pokko, her drum, her animal magnetism, her leadership:
"... wolf ate the rabbit, and Pokko stopped playing her drum..."
"No more eating band members or you're out of the band."
Wolf says he is sorry, means it, rejoins the band and peace reigns- other than the raucous spontaneous music made by the ever-growing band.
I can't imagine a child anywhere who won't love this frog, her many companions, her love of the drum (___insert object of choice___), her creative expressions, and her ultimate success.
Don't let this one miss your radar.
"... wolf ate the rabbit, and Pokko stopped playing her drum..."
"No more eating band members or you're out of the band."
Wolf says he is sorry, means it, rejoins the band and peace reigns- other than the raucous spontaneous music made by the ever-growing band.
I can't imagine a child anywhere who won't love this frog, her many companions, her love of the drum (___insert object of choice___), her creative expressions, and her ultimate success.
Don't let this one miss your radar.
January 10, 2020
"No more eating band members, or you're out of the band." Words to live by.
January 3, 2025
This book was hilarious and great except I didn't read it to my kid cause she'd be so upset the wolf ate one of the band members.
March 7, 2020
Pokko’s parents gave her a drum—major mistake. After listening to her nonstop racket, Pokko’s father sends her outside to play … quietly. After all, they’re a peaceful frog family and they don’t to call too much attention to their mushroom home. But after her drumming attracts a band of animals, her parents just might view her noisy hobby in a different light.
From the cover to the endpapers to the full-page spreads, Pokko and the Drum is a symphony of color and movement. Through careful watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil illustrations, Matthew Forsythe has crafted visuals that balance subtle whimsy with bold imagery. The result is a rich and often funny experience—watch for Pokko’s mother and her ever-present book—that lends itself to multiple readings.
But that’s not to suggest that Forsythe’s images overshadow his text. Rather, he compliments them with a blunt, wry style. Pokko bounds along on a drumming adventure peppered with humor and unpredictability. One minute she’s driving her parents bonkers and the next she’s accidentally forming a band. At the end, it’s all tied together by a positive, empowering button.
Somehow both timeless and fresh, Pokko and the Drum has all the makings of a modern picture book classic.
Note: Review also published at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
From the cover to the endpapers to the full-page spreads, Pokko and the Drum is a symphony of color and movement. Through careful watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil illustrations, Matthew Forsythe has crafted visuals that balance subtle whimsy with bold imagery. The result is a rich and often funny experience—watch for Pokko’s mother and her ever-present book—that lends itself to multiple readings.
But that’s not to suggest that Forsythe’s images overshadow his text. Rather, he compliments them with a blunt, wry style. Pokko bounds along on a drumming adventure peppered with humor and unpredictability. One minute she’s driving her parents bonkers and the next she’s accidentally forming a band. At the end, it’s all tied together by a positive, empowering button.
Somehow both timeless and fresh, Pokko and the Drum has all the makings of a modern picture book classic.
Note: Review also published at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
October 2, 2019
I have been waiting to read this book since Forsythe shared an image of the frog, some time ago, if I’m remembering right. Sadly, my expectations may have been too high. I don’t think I had pre-imagined any specific story about this drumming frog, but I believe the intrigue lay somewhere between the serious, intent expression and the jovial, almost harlequin-esque, outfit. The art in Pokko is par for the course excellence, alongside all Forsythe’s other books. It is the story and the writing here that fails to enchant me.
My main issue is the inclusion of the parents. I’m not sure why their opinion matters so much. Not being able to hear each other, in a dryly executed joke, is a little funny at first, but gets stale quickly. The concluding fact that father frog thinks his daughter might have talent doesn’t really do much for me. I’m more interested in Pokko. Besides telling a wolf off, how does the drum change her? Sidenote: I feel like that wolf got off the hook a bit too easily.
I realize that the drum may not be meant to be taken literally. Maybe it represents something else Pokko’s parents gave her. Self-confidence? ALL THAT SAID, I wish there had been some one sentence nod to the musicality of her drumming, rather than a vague celebration of loud noise. I mean, drums can be played quietly too! Maybe living in New York has lowered my patience for noise?
I think I would have been more enchanted if Pokko had just found the drum and other animals in the wood reacted negatively, until slowly, as she practiced, they didn’t. Maybe the other musicians have been similarly told to stop and they all need each other to make music? Maybe I’m quibbling?! Are these stories we have all already heard? Anyhow, the art is great. There are some choice moments of melodramatic zooms into character’s faces. Definitely check out this book.
My main issue is the inclusion of the parents. I’m not sure why their opinion matters so much. Not being able to hear each other, in a dryly executed joke, is a little funny at first, but gets stale quickly. The concluding fact that father frog thinks his daughter might have talent doesn’t really do much for me. I’m more interested in Pokko. Besides telling a wolf off, how does the drum change her? Sidenote: I feel like that wolf got off the hook a bit too easily.
I realize that the drum may not be meant to be taken literally. Maybe it represents something else Pokko’s parents gave her. Self-confidence? ALL THAT SAID, I wish there had been some one sentence nod to the musicality of her drumming, rather than a vague celebration of loud noise. I mean, drums can be played quietly too! Maybe living in New York has lowered my patience for noise?
I think I would have been more enchanted if Pokko had just found the drum and other animals in the wood reacted negatively, until slowly, as she practiced, they didn’t. Maybe the other musicians have been similarly told to stop and they all need each other to make music? Maybe I’m quibbling?! Are these stories we have all already heard? Anyhow, the art is great. There are some choice moments of melodramatic zooms into character’s faces. Definitely check out this book.
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December 13, 2019With gorgeous watercolor illustrations (what a color palette!) and a surprising, energetic and humorous story, this is a don't-miss picture book. When Pokko's drum gets to be too loud, her mother and father suggest that she play outside for a bit. She is soon joined by a posse of instrument-playing animals and a posse of music fans, all following Pokko, who is literally marching to the beat of her own drummer. Her mother and father might not like drawing attention to themselves, but Pokko's leading the way and the star of the show.
I love the funny moments and the expressive illustrations - how is Matthew Forsythe able to express so much in a frog's simple face? And the colors are just gorgeous. Hurrah for Pokko!
I love the funny moments and the expressive illustrations - how is Matthew Forsythe able to express so much in a frog's simple face? And the colors are just gorgeous. Hurrah for Pokko!
December 2, 2019
There are a lot of great things about this book. First the illustrations. I looove them. Such a nice use of tone and texture. Nice earthy color palette. Even white space is used well. There's great deadpan humor and the pacing is great (the combination of "Too quiet" and those narrowed eyes is perfect!). It was reminiscent of Jon Klassen in those moments. But the story is not as strong as it could be. Wolf eating the rabbit is very funny, but it feels like a non sequitur. Overall I think it weakens the story. I wanted to like this more than I did. Many well done individual moments and elements, leading to a feeling of meh at the end. I look forward to Forsythe's next book.
February 26, 2020
I love the artwork, and it's just adorable. Kid keeps asking to read it too.
December 16, 2021
This book is hilarious! It is so cinematic - the framing, the way tension is built, the timing that you can feel - *chef's kiss*! Author/illustrator Matthew Forsythe used watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil for the illustrations. The colors are so warm! Mostly oranges and yellows, but contrasted with olive greens. This book is for every parents who regretted getting a toy that made noise but then sees how much joy the toy brings their child. It is for every parent, period. I flew through this book, it is a real page-turner, which isn't fair to the art (worth lingering over). Pokko has such a strong personality, I love her! Forsythe conveys so much emotion on the characters' faces. Also, haha, one of the best lines/scenes has got to be at the end when Pokko's mom is literally reading a book during the entire story, it makes me laugh/cry! Dad is the one cooking, worrying over Pokko, etc. I am here for this! I think this would make an excellent story time book. The font is fairly large, there aren't a lot of words, and the vocabulary is simple. It will have readers of all ages in stiches!
October 3, 2020
For every parent who has regretted buying their kid an instrument until music replaced the noise, for every kid who needs a little encouragement to follow their passions, and for anyone who enjoys a fun story and beautiful illustrations, this book is for you!
June 9, 2020
Adorable.
November 17, 2023
New favorite author!!
November 17, 2023
JUSTICE FOR RABBIT!
November 18, 2023
"No more eating band members or you're out of the band."
"I'm sorry. "🤭
"I'm sorry. "🤭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2024
AAAAAAA I LOVE IT!! Honestly, the illustrations soooo pretty and then the moral value of this story is about prove your potential, be brave, and enjoying what you loved. I'm glad that I can met Pokko, she's literally cute 🐸💛
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