Dig, Wait, Listen: A Desert Toad's Tale

by April Pulley Sayre, Barbara Bash (Illustrator)

The desert Southwest
is full of sounds.
Skitter, skitter, scratch.
A scorpion is crawling.
Pop, pop, pop.
kangaroo rat is hopping.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
A rattlesnake is
shaking its tail.
But the spadefoot toad
is quiet in her
underground burrow,
listening for one sound
in particular...
What is that sound?
And what will the
spadefoot toad do
when she hears it?

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, Science, Childrens, School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

April Pulley Sayre was an award-winning children’s book author of over 55 natural history books for children and adults. Her read-aloud nonfiction books, known for their lyricism and scientific precision, have been translated into French, Dutch, Japanese, and Korean. She is best known for pioneering literary ways to immerse young readers in natural events via creative storytelling and unusual perspectives.

Reviews

[Shonica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love April Pulley Sayre. I saw her speak at a library thing once and I have to admit that before she started talking I wasn't enthused. Sometimes nonfiction authors can be a bit difficult to pay attention to. I was so wrong. She is lovely! And interesting! And funny!
I adore her books. They always make me smile. This one is no exception. And perfect for our summer reading theme this year, Dig Into Reading.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This informational book follows the spade foot toad as it awaits rainfall in the desert to mate. The story is educational and can show students the cycle of life even within different elements, such as the harsh weather of the desert. Overall, I did not particularly enjoy this read because it did not hold my interest. Although, I can still appreciate it's informational qualities for students.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as with a lot of her other texts, this one has a primary focus and it is a very well told story using onomatopoiea frequently. I enjoyed it and learned about the life cycle of a spadefoot toad in the process. Good piece of nonfiction on the whole.

[Liz Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Besides the Vulture book, this is my favorite April Pulley Sayre book. Lots of great language, very interesting, just right. This would be a great read-aloud during frog week.

*One part about the male riding piggy-back on the female and fertilizing eggs... *

[Nelly Paulina · Rating 5 out of 5]

totally up taby's alley.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text was quite simple but neither one of us knew about this awesome (and cute) desert toad so it was a wonderful introduction.

[Kathy Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting introduction to life cycle.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informational book with story. Cool to learn about this toad, hanging out underground waiting for the rain.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome kid's book with superb illustrations.

[Adina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful onomatopoeia. Beautiful illustrations.

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pair with FROG SONG.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars Very nice book about Desert Toads. You can almost hear the sounds of the rain!! Nice picture, nice non fiction!

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this book, but the mating scene kept me from using it for story time.

[Ashley Levasseur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not something I would normally pick up but it was very cute and had good information on this type of toad.

[Megan DeHart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun glimpse into the quiet life of the desert toad. It was an enjoyable read that is very informative about the importance of the rain on this animals life.

[Charlie Moses · Rating 3 out of 5]

child's picture book. A small child's introduction to the life of a desert toad, this book will hold the interest of any child interested in nature.

[Amelia]

This story is an educational book about a desert toad listening and waiting for the rain. Many animals pass over her burrow, but she is waiting for the rain to come. When it does, she digs up to the surface to enjoy the rain before the desert gets dry again. This book is a good book that introduces a variety of desert animals, while focusing specifically on the spade foot toad. The book has some additional fun facts about these toads, as well as related species, in the back of the book. I like this book because it provides an opportunity to engage with a landscape different from our own. It would be good for a compare/contrast lesson/practice!

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story when discussing habitats/biomes, desert creatures, the American southwest, or the life cycle of a frog/toad.

Interesting during this time of quarantine to think of the toad spending just a few weeks above ground before digging back into a burrow to wait for the next downpour.

It mentions that the male frog rides piggyback on the female and is there to fertilize the eggs when she lays them. This is apparently not a euphemism. My understanding of the back matter is that the eggs are fertilized AFTER they're laid.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a rare nonfiction book that can hold so much poetic text. I wish I could say it worked as poetry, but it didn't quite. (Then again, I don't think it was aiming to. ?)

I read it to a 5-year-old student who loved the spread of tadpoles best.
I wasn't prepared (I'm not a science teacher!) when he asked what "fertilizes" means and yowza that piggyback toad. Anyway, that awkwardness is on me.

The onomatopoetic text in various fonts was a little too clunky and effortful, which is how it felt when reading.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deep below the surface, a spadefoot toad waits for rain. First a scorpion, then peccaries, and then a kangaroo rat sprint by, making a noise. Finally, after many false alarms, the rains begin and the toad pops her head above the ground at last. She lays her eggs and the cycle continues.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a realistic nature story that introduces the unusual lifecycle of the spadefoot toad, and highlights multiple other species who live in the desert ecosystem, as well.