Froggy Learns to Swim

Froggy

by Jonathan London, Frank Remkiewicz (Illustrator)

Frogs are supposed to be great swimmers. "Not me!" says Froggy, who's afraid of the water. But with a little encouragement, some practice, and the help of a silly song or two, Froggy becomes an expert frog-kicker! Full color.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Summer, Fiction, Animals, Storytime, Family

Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Jonathan London is the author of several celebrated children's books. His commitment to honoring the wonders of the natural world has been lauded by readers and critics alike. He is the author of more than 70 children's books, many of which are about nature. He's also the author of the popular Froggy series. He lives in Graton, California with his wife and two sons.

Reviews

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an older book which I picked up for my granddaughter 2 1/2 years old. She loves the Froggy series and I have to admit so do I. It is delightful to read, makes perfect sense and the illustrations and wonderfully engaging.

Highly recommend for the toddler/2 year old range.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one BEFORE you read "Froggy Goes to School" and you'll understand a whole lot more.

That said, time for a parent rant:

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHILD SWIMMING IN THE POND AFTER DARK WHILE YOU GO TO SLEEP!

That said, ok, they're frogs. Still.

Cute story, not real clear at what point he learned to swim with those crazy instructions, but I can see how it helps? Huh. Good light reading for the summer though, especially if you've got a child a little hesitant about going into the water. Just don't get the book wet if you take it to the beach. :)

[Caroline Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

o Summary: Froggy is going to the water with his parents. His parents ask him to come and get in the water with them but he doesn’t know how to swim so he is scared. He finally gets the courage to let his parents teach him how to swim. He eventually learns how and then he doesn’t want to get out of the water. Froggy loves to swim!
o Grade level: 1st
o Appropriate classroom use: Story time
o Individual students who might benefit from reading could be students who are afraid to give something new a try. After reading this they may feeling as if since froggy could do it, then they can too.
o Small group use: silent reading
o Whole class use: story time
o Related books in genre/subject or content area: There are several different Froggy books by the same author.
o Multimedia connections available: There is a youtube video available.

[Sarah Kasper · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Froggy Learns to Swim" is a good book to share with students in the early elementary grades. For young children, I would use this book to teach about perserverance. Froggy didn't think he would be able to learn how to swim, but because he had a great teacher and because he kept trying, he was able to learn how to swim. Perserverance is a great trait to teach young children because there will be things in school (and life) that they will think they can't do, it is our job to teach them they can! I could also use this book with older children. They have probably had experiences with learning how to do something new, so I would love for them to write about that! I would love to read stories my students write about learning to swim, or riding a bike, or how to bake a cake, for example.

[Nancy Jo Lambert · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I could review several Froggy books, I am only going to review a couple because once you read two, you get the general idea. These books are extremely appealing to kids because they are so fun and enjoyable to read aloud. Both of my kids (2 and 4) really enjoy these books.

This one we read several times this summer as we were learning to swim ourselves this year. Both of my kids enjoyed Froggy's experiences as he learned to swim just like them. This is also the appeal of the Froggy books as they illustrate for kids things they go through too.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with fun noises for reading aloud

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to Julianna. Guves it 5 stars. Cute story. She likes it because he learned how to swim. :-)

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book while babysitting, I realized it had a good lesson in it that kids can take out of it. The book tells about a frog who is stubborn to go swimming and accidentally falls in. Once he is in, his mother teaches him how to swim. The frog and his mother go through several steps until Froggy learns how to swim by himself. The night comes to an end and Froggy's mother tells him to get out but he doesn't want to because he loves swimming now that he can do it. I would recommend this book to children ages four to probably ten, either gender. I thought this book was well illustrated and written.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Froggy Learns to Swim" is a good book to share with students. Like other Froggy books, you could use this one to show students the use of intentional text and how some words are italicized or in bold in order to draw attention to the reader. One could also use this story as a way to show students that if you try hard enough you can accomplish things you did not think you were able to (like Froggy learning to swim). This would also be a fun story to read before spring break or summer vacation when people start to swim. :)

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this book when i was little. For some reason i thought it was funny. All i remember was that he tried to learn to swim...

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Froggy learns to swim then he doesn't want to stop.

[Micah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mom doesn't like to read these.

[Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Amy Lohse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would give it one star if my daughter didn't like it enough to ask me to read it at least 10 times

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dad read to us..krb 12/1/16. I have such good memories of reading this book over and over to Jacob when he was little, cuddled up on my lap with his little binkie in his mouth.

[Dolly Turcios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Froggy at first is scared of swimming because he doesn't know how, he rather swing. But he swings so hard he flies off the swing into the pond. His mother is trying to teach him how to swim, first float on his belly, then float on his back. Eventually froggy wants his flippers and his mask and snorkel. His mom is telling him what words to use as he practices how to swim. "bubble bubble, toot toot, chicken, airplane, soldier". Froggy learns to swim and then he refuses to get out after his mother ask him to get out. Froggy is still swimming after sunset.. Mother is not happy.
Theme: Encouragement
Personal reaction: I think this is a book that can show to other children how doing something for the first time can be scary but once they do it, it becomes easy. His mom insisted to show him how to swim and later he did it. I recommend it because any mom can use this book to tell her child how to swim. First you float and say bubble bubble etc.. It can be a good book with a good teaching lesson.

[Tabitha Broek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a frog who is trying to learn to swim. He is encouraged by both his mom and dad to swim. He ended up on the swing and swing so much that he flew into the pond. He thought he was drowning then his mother helped him to swim, saying frogs are natural swimmers they are born in the water. He continued to need more stuff so that he could swim. With his flippers and his mask. He finally learned to swim and did not want to get out of the water. This is a cute book that I think students would get a kick out of. A frog the is afraid to swim, at a young age student could kind this funny because frogs are supposed to swim. I think this would be a good to help students get over their fears, cause this book is about a frog getting over his fear of swimming.

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit that Froggy stories are simply not my favorites. The whole "more red in the face than green" thing always seems to need to be explained for my students to understand that he is blushing because he is embarrassed. That said, THIS time I paired this book with two different nonfiction titles to reenforce fiction/nonfiction differences. I read this with Kinder and 1st grade and Froggy got quite a few laughs. Lots of examples of onomatopoeia here and opportunities for students to repeat/read-along with "bubble bubble toot toot, chicken, airplane soldier". I co sober a boom successful when a readaloud gets students interested in. checking out the book, and I am gapoybtonsay the Froggy books, ahem, hopped right off the shelves.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wait what? Even after the little guy learns to swim, he keeps using his flippers, mask, and snorkel?

That's like if Little Bear had kept all those warm clothes that his mother let him wear, even after learning that his bear fur was enough.

But I do like that Froggy's readers can learn "Bubble bubble toot toot" and "Chicken Airplane Soldier." I will never be able to put my face under water to use the former, but next time I'm in a pool I'll try the latter.

[Jessica]

In this book Froggy learns to swim. He is scared of swimming at first, but eventually he falls in love with it and is so happy to be out in the water. This would be a great time to have a discussion about the first time the students ever did something. I think I could spin off of this text and have them do a writing assignment explaining the first time they did something. This would be the perfect time for the students to learn how to use feeling words in their writings just how Froggy used feeling words to describe how he was scared and then loved swimming.

[Therese Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is actually a love poem to all the parents dedicated to helping their child go past what scares them to help them learn an important skill. Swimming, in this story.

Did Parker interpret it this way? No. He likes frogs. He calls them Hops so, based on the cover, he selected this book about one of his favorite creatures.

We will have to return to this. I hope he will understand the message that parents love their children and part of that love is assisting their children learn essential skills, especially if it’s a bit scary, and get them through through what they are afraid of.

It’s a good one-the message and the book.

[Chancela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself had full, bright pictures that helped tell the story. This was especially helpful when the mom was giving swimming instructions. This would be a good book to read when students are learning to swim (like at Coleridge-Taylor). It would also be good for activities like writing about what you used to be afraid to do.

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though Froggy was born in the water, he doesn’t know how to swim. Mom helps him blow bubbles and float. Froggy tries with his flippers on. And adds his mask and snorkel. Things were going fine until he realized he forgot his swim trunks! Once he’s back in the water, he won’t get out.
Fun onomatopoeia.

[Jacob Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Froggy Learns to Swim" is an engaging and humorous children's book that follows Froggy, a young frog who is hesitant about learning to swim. The book is filled with relatable moments as Froggy is scared of the water, but with the help of his friends and family, he slowly gains confidence and overcomes his fear.

[Janet C-B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a children's picture book from the Froggy series about overcoming fears, courage, and perserverence. It is a good story for beginner swimmers. While this is not my favorite book from the series, I am still a fan of Froggy and enjoy the illustrations.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about how Froggy overcomes his fear of the water and learns to swim. Fun graphics with good images of basic swimming techniques, this book helps little kids learn about swimming and overcoming their fears.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The moral of this story is to not let your fears get the better of you. In this tale, Froggy's mama wants Froggy to swim but he's afraid. After a bit of coaxing and coaching, he overcomes his fears and takes to the water like a, well, like a frog.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Froggy and his family are spending the day at the swimming hole but Froggy won't go in the water. Can his Mama teach him to love the water the way most frog's do? Another cute froggy adventure. Preschool and up

[Alissa Kennell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book that children can easily relate to when they are learning how to swim. I love all of the sound effects and how dramatic froggy is. I think that it would be a good book to read to a pre-school or kindergarten class.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

After three books in the series I mentioned three things that are all the same in each Froggy book.
This is book #4 and nothing has altered all the elements mentioned in the first three books are in book four.
And there you have it.