What do you think?
Rate this book
Strange and Wonderful
Frogs!: Strange and Wonderful
Are kids going to love this book? Is a frog waterproof? The latest title in the popular Strange and Wonderful series delivers the awe-inspiring variety of the world’s hoppiest amphibians. The goliath frog is more than a foot long. The tiny gold frog could sit on a dime. Some frogs have camouflage. Others wear bold colors warning their enemies that they are poisonous. Some frogs leap, others hop, one is a runner, and a few glide from tree to tree with their big, webbed hands and feet! Laurence Pringle’s knack for choosing and presenting surprising facts and Meryl Henderson’s gift for beautiful, realistic nature illustrations come together once again in a celebration of one of nature’s most fascinating marvels.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2012
4 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 26, 2013
The best thing about this book is Henderson's illustration. The photo-realism is among the best I've seen in the trompe-l'oeil tradition. This is because at first glance and from a distance it looks like photography, but when I stopped and actually looked and started to read, it was easy to see the watercolor technique. So it doesn't have the saturated or airbrushed feel the photorealism of the 1980s had.
As differentiated text, this book brings up some interesting feature issues. In words, the book only deals with two main structures: labeled 'portraits' of types of frogs, and the 'chapter' text itself. Each double page spread is a self-contained sub-topic (or sometimes two topics, one for each page), which is a good form of differentiation that clearly encourages browsing. I thought it was interesting that Pringle (and the book's unnamed designer) decided not to use any kind of titles or headers to call out these topics. In a way, I like this, because it lets the visuals dominate while the topic sentences clearly introduce the focus of the 'chapter'.
In pictures, this book is designed to inform me in a wider variety of ways--far more differentiated than the words are. There's one page about eyesight where a set of six frog heads are set in a 2x3 table so we can clearly compare and contrast. On the same double there is a cutaway from a whole picture of just the specialized foot. On the next page, there is a 'graphic novel' style showing a slowed down depiction of the toad unfolding its tongue to eat a moth. THIS kind of visual variety actually changes with almost every page, which is the strength of this book! Big question: Was this a collaborative decision between Pringle and Henderson, or is this visual effort all Henderson's? I'll need to look at some of their other books to see...
As differentiated text, this book brings up some interesting feature issues. In words, the book only deals with two main structures: labeled 'portraits' of types of frogs, and the 'chapter' text itself. Each double page spread is a self-contained sub-topic (or sometimes two topics, one for each page), which is a good form of differentiation that clearly encourages browsing. I thought it was interesting that Pringle (and the book's unnamed designer) decided not to use any kind of titles or headers to call out these topics. In a way, I like this, because it lets the visuals dominate while the topic sentences clearly introduce the focus of the 'chapter'.
In pictures, this book is designed to inform me in a wider variety of ways--far more differentiated than the words are. There's one page about eyesight where a set of six frog heads are set in a 2x3 table so we can clearly compare and contrast. On the same double there is a cutaway from a whole picture of just the specialized foot. On the next page, there is a 'graphic novel' style showing a slowed down depiction of the toad unfolding its tongue to eat a moth. THIS kind of visual variety actually changes with almost every page, which is the strength of this book! Big question: Was this a collaborative decision between Pringle and Henderson, or is this visual effort all Henderson's? I'll need to look at some of their other books to see...
May 11, 2013
In only 32 pages this book presents a great quantity of fascinating information and illustrations featuring frogs and toads, which are also frogs. The author takes an unusual approach by beginning the narrative with, “Make a sound like a frog. Go ahead. Pretend you are a frog and make its sound.” Then he explains that frogs from many parts in the world make a great variety of sounds, even some that resemble quacking and barking.
By reading along a student learns the meaning of the terms amphibian, herpetologist (scientists who study frogs), and anurans (animals in the order Anura, which means “without tail”). Students may already know that frogs come in many sizes and colors, but here they also learn about the different environments where frogs live, and how different types of frogs move – which can be running or even gliding through the air between branches. This book provides a nice explanation of how species of frogs differ and how they are alike, with examples and illustrations of species from around the world. Habitat destruction and endangerment are also covered.
Watercolor illustrations fit nicely with the text, showing details of frogs’ forms, colors, and environment. In a seek-and-find two-page spread the reader is asked to find 8 types of frogs whose camouflage help them blend into surroundings. The material is not divided into in chapters and there is no index, but some websites about frogs and habitat conservation are listed in the end.
For grades 1 through 5.
By reading along a student learns the meaning of the terms amphibian, herpetologist (scientists who study frogs), and anurans (animals in the order Anura, which means “without tail”). Students may already know that frogs come in many sizes and colors, but here they also learn about the different environments where frogs live, and how different types of frogs move – which can be running or even gliding through the air between branches. This book provides a nice explanation of how species of frogs differ and how they are alike, with examples and illustrations of species from around the world. Habitat destruction and endangerment are also covered.
Watercolor illustrations fit nicely with the text, showing details of frogs’ forms, colors, and environment. In a seek-and-find two-page spread the reader is asked to find 8 types of frogs whose camouflage help them blend into surroundings. The material is not divided into in chapters and there is no index, but some websites about frogs and habitat conservation are listed in the end.
For grades 1 through 5.
Read
June 24, 20151. I Don't Want to be a Frog by Dev Petty, 2015
2. This book is about a young frog who does not want anything to do with being a frog. He goes through different kinds of animals he would rather be like a cat or a rabbit. He talks about the characteristics he doesn't like about frogs like being too wet and slimy and eating too many bugs. At the end, there is a wolf who tells him how good it is to be a frog because wolves don't eat frogs. This could give children a better look at what animals are and are not predators of frogs.
3. The text structure of the book Frogs! is descriptive. Each page describes many aspects of frogs like the type, location, body parts, and other special characteristics. There are many text features throughout this book that help with the descriptions of body parts or specific types of frogs such as captions and diagrams.
4. A strategy I would use to connect these two texts would be activating prior knowledge about predators and prey among animals. I would read the fiction text first then ask questions related to prey and predators. I would list all students responses on chart paper and we would have a discussion over everything we already know about preys and predators before reading Frogs! and learning more specifically on the predators and prey of frogs. Activating prior knowledge would give students a kind of 'heads up' to what we are going to be learning about as well as provide students with some information they can make connections to in order to deepen their comprehension on the topic.
2. This book is about a young frog who does not want anything to do with being a frog. He goes through different kinds of animals he would rather be like a cat or a rabbit. He talks about the characteristics he doesn't like about frogs like being too wet and slimy and eating too many bugs. At the end, there is a wolf who tells him how good it is to be a frog because wolves don't eat frogs. This could give children a better look at what animals are and are not predators of frogs.
3. The text structure of the book Frogs! is descriptive. Each page describes many aspects of frogs like the type, location, body parts, and other special characteristics. There are many text features throughout this book that help with the descriptions of body parts or specific types of frogs such as captions and diagrams.
4. A strategy I would use to connect these two texts would be activating prior knowledge about predators and prey among animals. I would read the fiction text first then ask questions related to prey and predators. I would list all students responses on chart paper and we would have a discussion over everything we already know about preys and predators before reading Frogs! and learning more specifically on the predators and prey of frogs. Activating prior knowledge would give students a kind of 'heads up' to what we are going to be learning about as well as provide students with some information they can make connections to in order to deepen their comprehension on the topic.
May 16, 2013
This is a terrific nonfiction book about frog that is just filled with fascinating facts, but is not overwhelming in its detail. We learned so much from reading this book - I had no concept about the diversity of the frog population around the world.
We discovered that there's a paradoxical frog in South America whose tadpole is more than three times larger than the adult frog. We learned that of the more than six thousand kinds of frogs in the world, only the Pacific tree frog of the western United States actually says, "ribbit," And we read about a now-extinct gastric-brooding frog in Australia who would keep her fertilized eggs in her stomach for six weeks (without eating that whole time) until little froglets were developed enough to hop right out of her mouth. Amazing.
The illustrations are terrific, showing the fine details of each creature. We've been reading a lot of science books, especially ones by Seymour Simon. Many of these books rely on big, glossy color photographs to truly capture the creature or scientific principle being explained. But the watercolor illustrations by Meryl Henderson are just fantastic. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
We discovered that there's a paradoxical frog in South America whose tadpole is more than three times larger than the adult frog. We learned that of the more than six thousand kinds of frogs in the world, only the Pacific tree frog of the western United States actually says, "ribbit," And we read about a now-extinct gastric-brooding frog in Australia who would keep her fertilized eggs in her stomach for six weeks (without eating that whole time) until little froglets were developed enough to hop right out of her mouth. Amazing.
The illustrations are terrific, showing the fine details of each creature. We've been reading a lot of science books, especially ones by Seymour Simon. Many of these books rely on big, glossy color photographs to truly capture the creature or scientific principle being explained. But the watercolor illustrations by Meryl Henderson are just fantastic. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
October 14, 2013
This book is definitely intended for an older audience, which when I read the description, I was under the impression that it was suitable for younger readers. If I were to use this in an Early Childhood class, I would only use it to introduce frogs, and have a discussion on them. I would never expect them to read it on their own. I know they would not be able to understand it on their own. I do really think I would buy this book, only something I would get from the library, and use it for something like a frog project where I would need research on frogs.
June 11, 2014
This book does a great job of informing readers about how all frogs are not the same. All frogs vary in their size, color, sounds, mating, and the ways they live. There are labeled illustrations in this book that show how many different types of frogs there are-and that’s not even all of them! Readers will enjoy learning about different types of frogs as well as their life cycle. It is a very informative book that encourages readers to examine what makes frogs strange and wonderful.
February 21, 2013
I thought this was a really good nonfiction book and would work well on the WAW list. I didn't know much about frogs but sure learned a lot, especially about the variety of frogs out there. Some frogs actually have live births! But the text flowed easily and was well-supported by the clear pictures. A yes vote for me.
November 4, 2016
This book is simply about all sorts of different kinds of frogs and what they can look like and what they can do.
I liked this book because I know my boys would love it, but it's very lengthy so students might lose interest as you read.
I would use this book on the shelf for my boys, but I would also do a read aloud or book talk with it so students can learn about frogs.
I liked this book because I know my boys would love it, but it's very lengthy so students might lose interest as you read.
I would use this book on the shelf for my boys, but I would also do a read aloud or book talk with it so students can learn about frogs.
April 18, 2012
Grade 3-5, Life cycles of animals, Types of animals/Classifying animals
-this is a great book that shares information on many different types of frogs
-mentions endangered and extinct frogs
-describes basic characteristics of frogs (ex: habitiat, what they do, foos, etc...)
-this is a great book that shares information on many different types of frogs
-mentions endangered and extinct frogs
-describes basic characteristics of frogs (ex: habitiat, what they do, foos, etc...)
Read
April 19, 2012Science Content:
This book is a wonderful book to use when teach students about frogs or when teaching students about the different animal classifications.It would also be great for teaching about the life cycle of frogs or endanger species facts.
This book would be best for 3-5th graders.
This book is a wonderful book to use when teach students about frogs or when teaching students about the different animal classifications.It would also be great for teaching about the life cycle of frogs or endanger species facts.
This book would be best for 3-5th graders.
April 19, 2012
This book is for: PreK-5
Topic: Frogs
Reflection: This book is a wonderful content book about frogs. This would be a great book to introduce to your class when beginning units about life cycles, endangered species, or even talking about textures, colors, etc.
Topic: Frogs
Reflection: This book is a wonderful content book about frogs. This would be a great book to introduce to your class when beginning units about life cycles, endangered species, or even talking about textures, colors, etc.
March 7, 2013
Frogs: Strange and Wonderful!, Laurence Pringle
Grades: K-5
Topic: Frogs
Description: This book lists different types of frogs (the Goliath frog, tiny gold frog, tree frogs, etc) and lists facts and descriptions incluiding their habitats, their defense mechanisms like camoflauge, and more.
Grades: K-5
Topic: Frogs
Description: This book lists different types of frogs (the Goliath frog, tiny gold frog, tree frogs, etc) and lists facts and descriptions incluiding their habitats, their defense mechanisms like camoflauge, and more.
January 3, 2014
Starts by introducing the basic characteristics of amphibians. Continues with information detailing the adaptations that enable frogs to survive in various ecosystems. Use with primary animal units or intermediate units on animal adaptations.
January 1, 2015
Interested in frogs? Pringle does a pretty thorough job with this nonfiction picture book about frogs, their habits, habitats, life cycle, etc. Cool illustrations and lots of details.
June 6, 2012
Very nicely illustrated, informative book about frogs.
February 19, 2013
J597.89P Interesting and informative although a bit detailed for K-1st grade. Nice illustrations.
March 10, 2013
Grades: k-5
Topic: frogs
Topic: frogs
March 12, 2013
Grades K-5
Topic: frogs
Topic: frogs
March 12, 2013
1- Characteristics of Living Things
March 12, 2013
Grade: 3rd-5th
Topic: Amphibian
Topic: Amphibian
Read
March 12, 2013K-3, amphibians
March 12, 2013
Grade Level: 1-5
Topic: Frogs
Topic: Frogs
August 23, 2013
This book is a good science book for younger students. It talks about different facts about frogs. The book goes through the life cycle of the frog, and talks about where they live.
December 18, 2015
Another wonderfully wide introduction to a type of animal.
Discussion of extinction at the end.
Discussion of extinction at the end.
March 12, 2013
Grade: K-5
Content: Classifications - Amphibians
Content: Classifications - Amphibians
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews