In the Swamp by the Light of the Moon

by Frann Preston-Gannon

A little frog is singing to himself in the swamp one night. His song doesn't seem complete, so he invites other animals to join in. Nothing sounds right until the littlest voice joins the song - that of a tiny firefly.

A wonderfully illustrated picture book with the important message that small voices need to be heard too.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Friendship

40 pages, Paperback

Published March 7, 2019

About the author

Frann Preston-Gannon is the author-illustrator of several books for children. She was the first U.K. recipient of a Sendak Fellowship, and her first picture book, The Journey Home, was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal. She is one-fifth of the design group Zombie Collective, which specializes in workshops and pop-up galleries. She lives in London.

Reviews

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Singing in the swamp...

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eine schön illustrierte Geschichte darüber, dass jeder Einzelne von uns im Großen und Ganzen wichtig ist und etwas besonderes beitragen kann. Wunderbar bunt und lebensfroh!

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*]

By the Light of the Moon by Frann Preston-Gannon. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2019. $17. 9781536208108

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3)- ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

As froggy sits alone, singing his little frog tune, he realizes that something just isn’t right. “Singing alone is not much fun. What a sad, lonely froggy am I.” Frog then begins his quest to find and invite other animals to join him. Birds sing along, fish sing loud, mice sing high and a crocodile beat his drum while the little frog sang his tune. Something still wasn’t quite right. Froggy then notices a shy little bug not adding her song to the night. “I’m too small and my voice is not very strong.” the little bug adds. Froggy replies, “Even small voices count, so let’s hear yours-“ And that is when the musical magic happened.

This wonderfully illustrated book will delight young readers! Not only are the pictures beautiful, the message that “small voices need to be heard, too” is perfectly shared. The message found in By the Light of the Moon will spark conversation about differences in people and how those differences make us unique and special.

Reviewer: SL
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Chloe Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: This book was absolutely precious and sweet. The story follows a little frog as he gathers his swamp friends to play his song along with him. As he gathers more and more animal friends, the song just doesn’t sound quite right. There is a little lightning bug who is seen throughout the pages but she’s so little and tiny, and at the end of the book, the frog asks her why she’s so quiet. She says her song is too soft and it won’t matter if she sings. The frog gives a message of encouragement and says that no voice is too small, and then the lightning bug begins to glow and hum to the beat. After the lightning bug joined, everyone’s sounds blended together into beautiful music! This story’s message is that no voice should go unheard. Everyone’s voice has a say and is important.

Likes/Dislikes: The art style of this book is very whimsical and cute with the big round eyes and soft colors. The spreads throughout this book are precious and sweet. Since this book does take place at night, it probably would be geared towards reading in the bedroom as a bedtime story, but I think it could be used in the classroom also. I didn’t see anything I didn’t like about it, overall a very precious story.

Classroom Usage: I think that this book could be used in a 2nd/3rd grade classroom. The overall message is kind of an older kids concept to grasp, but I think even 1st graders could understand it. I think it would be fun to have the kids all make different sounds and make music together and make sure no one gets left out. Make it a game! Have the kids do something different and go one at a time and add to it until the whole class is making sounds together. One kid clapping, one kid tapping, etc.

[Lynsaroo · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the light of the 🌕 moon, a lone frog 🐸 sings along to his guitar but his song is most definitely missing something. One by one, he gathers all his swamp friends to join in but it still isn’t right. The 🐊 crocodile and his 🥁 drum, the mice 🐁 with their flute and gong, and the various voices of the 🐟 fishes and birds all add a depth and harmony to the tune but it’s just not enough. Then the frog catches sight of a shy firefly who lacks the confidence to join. With a little pep-talk about the importance of his unique voice, the firefly fills out the beautiful swamp song.

This book is such a sweet little reminder that even the smallest voices matter, and that everything is better when we do it together. I love the moral of this story and the sing-songy rhyme-filled verse. My son enjoyed the silly instrument-playing creatures and the enchanting illustrations.

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[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

With lyrical rhyming text and vibrant digital illustrations, this story about the power of music and teamwork will put a smile on readers’ faces. By the light of the moon a frog sits and strums his guitar and sings a little song, but something doesn’t feel right. Perhaps he needs another creature to make the music complete? He happens upon a crocodile who happily adds his drumbeat, but the song is still lacking something. As more and more animals join in the music swells and becomes richer, but it isn’t until the frog convinces a small insect to contribute her talent that the song becomes perfect. This story has an important message about the value found in everyone and would make a strong read aloud in a classroom, the library or as part of an elementary music curriculum.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frog wants to play his song but feels as though something is missing. He asks his swamp friends to help fill out the rest of his tune.

This is a gorgeous picture book. The illustrations are nice and big: great for sharing with a large group! I love the message of everyone has their part to play no matter how small. I think this book would be great for a music storytime. You could do an activity after reading the story where each child can play an instrument to represent an animal or sing in different tones. Recommended for preK or younger elementary age audiences.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! A musical frog who feels lonely looks for others to join in his song... yet something doesn’t feel right with everyone adding their part to his song.. until he meets a bug with low self esteem whom he helps...and she finishes the song just right with her own beautiful voice.
My mum noticed that If you look on each page you realise the bug is on every page watching the frog the whole time with wonder and loneliness and feeling neglected! Absolutely loved this.

[Ersa S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man I love frogs and the art of Froggy on the cover of this book pulled me in, hook-line-and-sinker!

The story was also very sweet and uplifting, with beautiful full page illustrations, and a fantastic rhyming scheme thr0ughout the book. I was hoping to add this to my storytime with a reptile theme but think it would be better suited someplace else.

Highly recommend reading this book with children and caregivers of all ages.

[Amy Smith]

This book is perfect for a bedtime or music stroytime. While the book is longer, it has repetition and a good flow that will captivate an audience. It is reminiscent of the folk song, "There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea." The last creature that adds to the chorus is a bug so you could make it work for an insect themed storytime as well. Overall, the book has opportunities for practicing rhyming, repetition, and vocabulary.

[Rebecca Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frog want's to create music by the pond, so he invites different creatures to add their unique sounds to the mix, but something isn't right. That is, until he finds someone who he tells "your song is unique and important, like all of the rest. Even small voices count, so let's hear yours--only you can sing your song best." Loved the value that is placed on all no matter how big or small.

[Tompkins County Public Library Youth Services]

"A Little frog is singing to himself one night. His song doesn’t seem complete, so he invites other animals to join in. Nothing sounds right until the littlest voice joins the song – that of a tiny firefly. This wonderfully illustrated picture book reminds us that small voices need to be heard, too."
I couldn’t have said it any better. An extremely sweet book for all ages.

[Anne Lutomia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about a lonely frog by a swamp that decides to sing and invite other animals to sing with him. Author-Illustrator Frann Preston-Gannon writes an amazing story and illustrates beautiful swamp scenarios.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful lyrical picture book with a steady rhythm. It made me think of The Owl and the Pussycat as I read. I could really imagine it being a story to song to. And it gave the wonderful message that everyone’s voice is important however small.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rhyming text is lyrical and the illustrations are gorgeous. The story is an "add-on" as each animal joins in the song. It's a nice message of diversity and inclusion. This is a good addition to a friendship, music, nature, animal, or diversity story time theme.

[Amanda Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and a nice rhythmic story. My only complaint about this one is the pretty obvious agenda. It's not that it isn't a great agenda. It is. But I wish it had been executed a little more smoothly. It distracts from a cute story.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must have read this book when I was very distracted, because flipping through the pages didn't jog my memory. I think the plot consists of a frog and some other animals making music in a swamp. I liked the illustrations.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars sentimental

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frann Preston-Gannon's books are always just simply pleasing.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loooooove this one! Great artwork and the rhyming is catchy.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO CUTE!! Wonderful rhyming text, sweet cumulative story, and absolutely adorable illustrations. I LOVE it!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splendid! Beautiful, gentle pictures and a delightful song.

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little didactic and sometimes the rhythm feels off, but otherwise and fun little book.

[Jenn Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for storytime. A couple kids liked it way more than I did, but mostly just because the animals were cute.
The story was fine and I couldn't get into the rhythm

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very sweet book with adorable illustrations, but I think it would seem quite long if I were reading it aloud to a group.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the swamp animals keep joining in in this cute cumulative tale about singing and instruments. Would be easy to use in storytime.

[Jeani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A frog invites other animals to sing with him, but his song doesn’t sound complete until a firefly adds her voice.

[Jackie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great toddler/preschool storytime book. It's a bit on the long side for a storytime program if you do a lot of books. It has good repetition though, and there's enough new elements that it doesn't feel cumbersome. Although the pictures aren't super bold and high contrast, the book itself is large enough that it'd work just fine for larger groups. I would read this book instead of doing a flannel or puppet story, but I do think it'd be fun to have flannel animals to put up while reading. It'd also be fun to have a drum in your lap because one of the repeating lines is about drumming!