The Frog Principal by Stephanie Calmenson

by Stephanie Calmenson

When principal Mr. Bundy is accidentally turned into a frog by a visiting magician, the students of P.S. 88 are quite disgruntled, especially when he starts swimming in the kindergarten sink and eating students' fly collections, in a hilarious picture book filled with zany illustrations.

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Fantasy, School, Childrens, Animals, Contemporary

Hardcover

First published August 1, 2001

About the author

Stephanie Calmenson's many popular titles include concept books, funny school stories, poetry collections, books about dogs and, with Magic School Bus author Joanna Cole, anthologies and beginning reader chapter books.

Stephanie's books have been called "marvelous" (PW), "lyrical" (SLJ), "hilarious" (SLJ), "sweet, funny, and right on the mark" (Booklist).

Before turning to writing, Stephanie was a teacher, a children's book editor, and Editorial Director of Parents Magazine's Read-Aloud Book Club.

Website: my link text

Reviews

[Kara Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

"When Marty Q. Marvel the magician accidentally turns Mr. Bundy into a frog, the students of P.S. 88 don't know what to do! It's not always easy having a slimy, green-skinned amphibian for a principal. Even worse, Mr. Bundy has started playing leapfrog, swimming in the kindergarten sink, and eating students' fly collections. Will he ever be his old self again?"

This book would be a cute way to introduce imagination when writing. I could have the students write about a day if the principal was a frog. I love how this book shows that no matter who you are you still can do anything you set your mind to. The frog was not going to give up on being the principal. That job was too important to him. I would love to read this in my classroom.

[Zequoia Hyche · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very silly, yet engaging! I enjoyed the entire story and the principal may not of looked the part, he still considered himself to be a principal. This book was very expressive and captivated the mind of a principal, but also a frog. This concept is a silly one, but it is interesting to see how the story will pan out in the end. I think the fact that the main character faces such obstacles is the reason why readers are engaged. It kind of plays to the concepts of cause and effect. And you can ask children what caused the principle to turn into a frog? How do you think or do you think he'll ever turn back to normal? Pose many open ended questions in comprehending this text. I'm sure it will be effective!

[Beth Starcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book that many students would enjoy. It was also very helpful and almost a lesson and a meaning behind the book. The author wanted to show that it is important to always mean what you say and tell the truth. Mr. Bundy was a very good character at both the principal and the frog. It was a good idea that he did not let the students know that when he was the frog it was really him. That way he could see what is going on in his school. Like I said this book can be used as a lesson and also for pleasure. I think it would be good idea to read this book to a classroom at the beginning of the school year.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Show-Me Winner takes a spin-off on the Frog Prince tale by making the nicest principal at the nicest school accidentally get himself turned into a frog, and tries to convince the kids and staff that he's still the best principal. Can he do that? Will he ever be human again? Find out.

Funny illustrations, nice adaptation of a beloved fairytale; Good for 2nd and 3rd Grade Readers. The older kids will love the comedy...Some of the vocabulary and structure is a bit more for the older/advanced reader, but the vibrant illustrations throughout keep a reader engaged and giggling

[Rehema Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was engaging. This was the first time I read it in class and I really liked it because it gives children a perspective on how to appreciate how other people feel when certain situations arise; like their principal being turned into a frog. They had a little bit of Spanish incorporated as well.

[Jerriev]

A magician turns the principal into a frog and the students do no know what to do. He plays the principal until he can find the magician so he can turn him back into a human again.

This book has cute pictures and shows that it doesn't matter what you look like, you can still do a job (principal).

[melhara · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

This was a very Robert Munsch-like book - I really liked it! I think it's great to have more children's books that don't villanize teachers and principals. In this book, the principal accidentally gets turned into a frog... but being the passionate school administrator that he is, he decides to continue with his job while in the body of a frog!

----------------------------------------------
Part of a personal challenge to read all of my boyfriend's and his sister's childhood books before we donate and give them away.

[Kaitlynne Manley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was extremely funny and fun to read. I would definitely recommend it to teachers as a story to read.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute story.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the illustrations by Denise Brunkus!

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little long for preschool but a great read aloud to five and six year old kiddos
Recommended

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a funny little story about a principal who turns into... (you guessed it) ...a frog. The narrative is humorous, and we loved the illustrations by Denise Brunkus. Our youngest immediately recognized her characteristic style and the similarities to her illustrations for the Junie B. Jones stories. Overall, it was an entertaining story and we enjoyed reading it together.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun and cute story that both my 4 and 6 year-old enjoyed. It's about a principle that gets turned into a frog and manages to keep being the priciple while still a frog! However, a word of caution is that the students make a promise and break it (hence lying) and so I made sure I brought that to the girl's attention and we talked about the fact that it is wrong to lie. So cute story that, depending on your level of comfort, can allow for a lesson, too.

[Danielle Simmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book shows determination from a principal who turns into a frog. He continues his principal duties and does not give up on his job or his students. This book was good to show kids that even through tough obstacles you never give up.

[Taylor Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book but I would not recommend as a read-aloud unless you break it up beacuse was longer than I expected. It is very entertaining and humorous plus the illustration were great and funny. Children will love this book.

[Cheyenne Rose Jarvis · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was kinda funny

[Michelle King · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was ok. I found it hard to get into. I kept putting the book down. It took a while to finish one!

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a fun and silly book for students. It is a good book to show students what is real and not real.

[Rebekah Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was a fun read. It had great illustrations that kept my interest throughout the book. I liked the creative idea behind a frog being a principal of a school by magic.

[Lucius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute premise with some silly humor. Kids will enjoy this book.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

No awards have been given to this book. The age range is k-2. In this story, a student who practices magic accidentally turns their school principal into a frog! The principal turns out to enjoy being a frog, and plays leapfrog, swims in sinks, and eats flies. At the end of the story, you are left with a cliffhanger, because although the principal is human again, he swallows a fly! I enjoyed this book. It has a lot of content on each page, and the storyline is engaging. The illustrations are also very detailed, which kept my attention. One in class use for this book is during an imagination/creativity writing unit. Students can be encouraged to write a story based off of what happened here (make-believe). Another in class use for this book is to teach the concept of fiction.