What do you think?
Rate this book
Kulipari #1
An Army of Frogs
While the Kulipari, the Amphibilands elite fighting group of poisonous frogs, is away, young Darel hopefully assembles a motley crew of friends to fend off an attack by the spell caster called the Spider Queen, and Lord Marmoo, leader of the scorpions.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2013
87 people are currently reading
420 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 - 30 of 74 reviews
June 13, 2017
I've been reading this book slowly over a matter of months as time allows. Each time I've chosen to pick it up for my "me" time rather than doing something else, I haven't been very disappointed.
The book was very well edited and the illustrations were very charming, almost graphic novel in appearance. I admit the character design of the spider queen bothered me - she just looked TOO human and this was ill-fitting when compared to the rest of the characters - but overall the illustrator did a fabulous job. However the word layout itself felt like someone had double-spaced everything in order to pad the book. To counter that the quality of the book printing itself is superb.
This tale was set in an anthropomorphic universe where frogs, scorpions, turtles, and spiders take the lead roles. The characters were fairly interesting although the usual "D&D-esque" character types each had their part. There was the spunky leader whose father had been super bad awesome once, and that's why the poor lad felt like he had to be the same. There was your typical female healer with no real interest in anything but saving the sick. And of course there was the ever-faithful fat companion with a love for sweets that proves to be more brave than anyone ever thought him to be. We obviously can't have a fantasy story without him.
On the other side there was the usual big bad guy who plans on doing harm to all around him and the "Cruella Deville" of the spider world... money hungry mercenaries.... and tasty skinks. I was pleased to note that there didn't seem to be any "gender-based" role giving in most of the social structures. Males and females both were warriors, or cocky jerks, or meek submissive types. That's actually refreshing in a story read, although when choosing a book that's my last concern and is only mentioned here to show the wide variety of character types the author created in this interesting world. So although the main characters are cliche, the rest of the world balances that out a bit.
The language was great, considering this is not a book meant for folks my age. Some of the words are ones that are now sometimes discouraged in books meant for young people, but I approve of them being there. Gotta expand those minds and increase those vocabularies somehow! This is how it was done for me. Thumbs up.
The tale itself was your basic coming of age because of outside peril tale. We love stories like these, as readers, generally speaking.... and I did enjoy watching our plucky hero go from being told to behave to, well, being a plucky hero. The only thing that marred the experience was the book's pacing. The book was going forward at a very steady pace and suddenly - boom. We're in the middle of the climax and a heap of storytelling opportunity has been missed getting there from one chapter to the next. When a book does that, or a movie, it always throws me out of it as I sit there blinking and feeling rushed. So one star off for that.
I'd recommend this book. I'm looking forward to starting the next.
The book was very well edited and the illustrations were very charming, almost graphic novel in appearance. I admit the character design of the spider queen bothered me - she just looked TOO human and this was ill-fitting when compared to the rest of the characters - but overall the illustrator did a fabulous job. However the word layout itself felt like someone had double-spaced everything in order to pad the book. To counter that the quality of the book printing itself is superb.
This tale was set in an anthropomorphic universe where frogs, scorpions, turtles, and spiders take the lead roles. The characters were fairly interesting although the usual "D&D-esque" character types each had their part. There was the spunky leader whose father had been super bad awesome once, and that's why the poor lad felt like he had to be the same. There was your typical female healer with no real interest in anything but saving the sick. And of course there was the ever-faithful fat companion with a love for sweets that proves to be more brave than anyone ever thought him to be. We obviously can't have a fantasy story without him.
On the other side there was the usual big bad guy who plans on doing harm to all around him and the "Cruella Deville" of the spider world... money hungry mercenaries.... and tasty skinks. I was pleased to note that there didn't seem to be any "gender-based" role giving in most of the social structures. Males and females both were warriors, or cocky jerks, or meek submissive types. That's actually refreshing in a story read, although when choosing a book that's my last concern and is only mentioned here to show the wide variety of character types the author created in this interesting world. So although the main characters are cliche, the rest of the world balances that out a bit.
The language was great, considering this is not a book meant for folks my age. Some of the words are ones that are now sometimes discouraged in books meant for young people, but I approve of them being there. Gotta expand those minds and increase those vocabularies somehow! This is how it was done for me. Thumbs up.
The tale itself was your basic coming of age because of outside peril tale. We love stories like these, as readers, generally speaking.... and I did enjoy watching our plucky hero go from being told to behave to, well, being a plucky hero. The only thing that marred the experience was the book's pacing. The book was going forward at a very steady pace and suddenly - boom. We're in the middle of the climax and a heap of storytelling opportunity has been missed getting there from one chapter to the next. When a book does that, or a movie, it always throws me out of it as I sit there blinking and feeling rushed. So one star off for that.
I'd recommend this book. I'm looking forward to starting the next.
November 26, 2019
It was a good book filled with action and thrilling moments.
May 12, 2017
In this fast-paced tale, Pryce finds just the right balance between brutality and bravery, friendship and betrayal, and loss and discovery. Darel, a common wood frog, has a burning desire to emulate his late father, a mighty Kulipari warrior who died defending their homeland from invading scorpions. A new alliance between the scorpions and spiders threatens the Amphibilands. Darel and his friend Gee find themselves in the heart of the enemy camp: Gee a prisoner and Darel posing as a warrior volunteer. Darel's cunning and bravery make for a page-turner, and readers will be rooting for him as he, Gee, and their friend Coorah help lead the army of frogs to victory and secure the Amphibilands once more. Greene lends his talent with lush color illustrations that capture the tension and tenor of the text. Fans of Suzanne Collins's "Underland Chronicles" series (Scholastic) will be clamoring for this well-written first installation in a series. A must-have, winning adventure that is nearly impossible to put down.
April 29, 2015
Darel is a young plain wood frog who wishes for a chance to be an elite warrior, the poisonous kind –the Kulipari. But the community, the Amphibilands, is at peace – it’s protected and hidden, thanks to the magic of the Turtle King. Darel still “trains” with his best friend, and one day they discover that dangerous Scorpions are coming and worse yet, they have the magic of the Spider Queen behind them. Darel must learn to find his own strengths if he wants to follow in his fathers heroic footsteps.
This was an absolutely great novel! The characters are memorable, well-developed, and interesting. The friendships are realistic and fun. Students will relate to the wishes emotions of Darel –who is so normal but wishes he was extraordinary. Students will learn along with Darel that making a difference takes hard work and bravery. I think the cover and the reptile cast will be incredibly appealing to 2nd-4th grade boys. Super amazing illustrations too –sort of graphic novel style!!
This was an absolutely great novel! The characters are memorable, well-developed, and interesting. The friendships are realistic and fun. Students will relate to the wishes emotions of Darel –who is so normal but wishes he was extraordinary. Students will learn along with Darel that making a difference takes hard work and bravery. I think the cover and the reptile cast will be incredibly appealing to 2nd-4th grade boys. Super amazing illustrations too –sort of graphic novel style!!
July 19, 2016
An adventure story about frogs might sound weird but its and interesting and exciting story, Can't wait to read the second book.
May 28, 2016
Love it!!!! A good story too. Fighting spiders and scorpions may sound crazy but it's true.
-Sydney, age 8
-Sydney, age 8
June 25, 2019
And listed under "Things You Wouldn't See Coming" is this novel about a war between frogs and a combined scorpion/spider army for control of the Amphibilands, and the precious water it contains.
Set in Australia (in the hot and dry parts of that country), it follows a young frog in his desire to become a warrior like his father, but with a twist--his father was a poison frog, and could give himself almost supernatural fighting abilities by tapping into that poison. His son is just an ordinary frog. Worse, there are no battles to fight as the Amphibilands are hidden by a protective veil from the outside world, keeping the frogs safe from harm.
But, as in all good books of this type, of course all that changes.
The Good:
It's a lot of fun. I mean, A LOT.
The talking animal characters are made fascinating because of how true they are to their unique animal forms--these aren't your typical "humans in animal form" you so often see in kids' books. Each of the species depicted have distinct cultures, desires, and goals, and that diversity both fuels the plot and makes the world simply fascinating. The characters are fully realized, and the Australian setting isn't just for show; the book is woven through with the unique landscape and old aboriginal legends and beliefs.
The Bad:
It's a young man's coming of age story in many ways, an often retread plotline. It's also tropey in the extreme, to the point that on more than one occasion I found myself bored with the plot, even while I thoroughly enjoyed the setting. Children won't necessarily recognize the plot beats, having been exposed to less media (and with many modern tales moving away from or trying to subvert them), but adults definitely will. The story is, sadly, formulaic in the extreme, to the point that it's criminally simple to predict what comes next. That cost it a half star because I think anyone able to world build this well could have brought something new to a tired old formula.
Again, though, I still rated it a four star read--just know what you're getting into. This was definitely written for children, not children and adults.
The Uh, Erm....:
I have the perspective of "reading while female," and....well, I spent much of the book wondering where all the women were. They weren't missing entirely, but their presence never felt all that strongly, and if this book passed the Bechdel test it was just barely. Often women only spoke to men, and when they did speak to each other it was frequently about a male. Plus, when women do show up they're in largely traditional roles--the mother, the magic user, the chieftain (portrayed more motherly/grandmotherly than leader-like in this first book, plus barely present), and the healer. And the "evil queen" stereotype is every evil Disney queen/female magic user that ever existed.
There are two female warriors, but they get their strength from magic. In fact, EVERY woman warrior in this book gets her strength from magic, either battling with the aid of such or as a straight magic user. There are NO female warriors who fight with pure strength and battle skill, not among the frogs or the scorpions, not among the mercenaries, and not even in the spider troops. Unless a woman has magic backing her she apparently sits out the battles.
Whoever conceived of this story has some very Definite Ideas (tm) about women and "their place," whether they consciously realize it or not--and no, I don't think the male/female diametric was a conscious choice. I think someone simply regurgitated what one often sees in other, similar stories and didn't think too deeply about it.
The reason this bothers me so much is because it seems strange, especially in a book where each species was so well researched. For example, female scorpions are often larger and more aggressive than males (it can vary by species but these traits are not uncommon), and many spider species also have the same traits in their females--not surprising since both species are arachnids. Even many frog species have females that are significantly larger than the males. Considering how fully researched each of these critters were you'd think that the females would have been portrayed a little truer to their respective species, and their usefulness in non-traditional female roles considered accordingly (instead of lots of big male frog warriors, no big frog women, no women among the scorpions at all, etc.).
I didn't take off a full star for this--the star loss was a combination of formulaic and poor female presence (which can subtitle under formulaic). I was disappointed but not hugely surprised at the female issue, considering the type of story, and that (and yes, this may be unfair, but...) the story was the brain child of a male sports professional.
Would I recommend this read to others?:
Again, I rated this book at four stars and I stand by that rating.
This is a genuinely fun read and, despite some of the drawbacks that I, as an adult, couldn't ignore, these are drawbacks children will never see. Instead they'll be enthralled by the battles, the choices the heroes have to make, and the world the story is set in. And overall it's a good story, drawbacks included. Every author's fledgling offering should be so well done.
However, I would add one caveat: this book is STRICTLY for, and narrowly aimed at, young boys. I would recommend this to young men almost without reservation--the female issue is still not great, but there is enough female presence to put it above other stories aimed at young boys, plus enough media aimed at that demographic is currently trying to change the weird lack of females that I think they can balance this one read against other offerings.
For mothers of young girls I would suggest looking for reading material elsewhere or to read it with them so you can help them navigate the gender politics therein. There are role models for young men aplenty, but not so much for young women. And since it's still very difficult to find strong female role models who break out of traditional roles (and I mean more than just adding a few sword wielders to a battle epic) or who have presence equal to men without gender becoming a Big Honking Deal (tm) that honestly...maaaaaybe just give this one a pass.
Or make sure they pick up book two and don't stop at this one. The women get a little more screen time there and, while their roles are still often traditional, they are stronger and more unique and fully rounded characters overall.
I can't speak for book three yet.
Set in Australia (in the hot and dry parts of that country), it follows a young frog in his desire to become a warrior like his father, but with a twist--his father was a poison frog, and could give himself almost supernatural fighting abilities by tapping into that poison. His son is just an ordinary frog. Worse, there are no battles to fight as the Amphibilands are hidden by a protective veil from the outside world, keeping the frogs safe from harm.
But, as in all good books of this type, of course all that changes.
The Good:
It's a lot of fun. I mean, A LOT.
The talking animal characters are made fascinating because of how true they are to their unique animal forms--these aren't your typical "humans in animal form" you so often see in kids' books. Each of the species depicted have distinct cultures, desires, and goals, and that diversity both fuels the plot and makes the world simply fascinating. The characters are fully realized, and the Australian setting isn't just for show; the book is woven through with the unique landscape and old aboriginal legends and beliefs.
The Bad:
It's a young man's coming of age story in many ways, an often retread plotline. It's also tropey in the extreme, to the point that on more than one occasion I found myself bored with the plot, even while I thoroughly enjoyed the setting. Children won't necessarily recognize the plot beats, having been exposed to less media (and with many modern tales moving away from or trying to subvert them), but adults definitely will. The story is, sadly, formulaic in the extreme, to the point that it's criminally simple to predict what comes next. That cost it a half star because I think anyone able to world build this well could have brought something new to a tired old formula.
Again, though, I still rated it a four star read--just know what you're getting into. This was definitely written for children, not children and adults.
The Uh, Erm....:
I have the perspective of "reading while female," and....well, I spent much of the book wondering where all the women were. They weren't missing entirely, but their presence never felt all that strongly, and if this book passed the Bechdel test it was just barely. Often women only spoke to men, and when they did speak to each other it was frequently about a male. Plus, when women do show up they're in largely traditional roles--the mother, the magic user, the chieftain (portrayed more motherly/grandmotherly than leader-like in this first book, plus barely present), and the healer. And the "evil queen" stereotype is every evil Disney queen/female magic user that ever existed.
There are two female warriors, but they get their strength from magic. In fact, EVERY woman warrior in this book gets her strength from magic, either battling with the aid of such or as a straight magic user. There are NO female warriors who fight with pure strength and battle skill, not among the frogs or the scorpions, not among the mercenaries, and not even in the spider troops. Unless a woman has magic backing her she apparently sits out the battles.
Whoever conceived of this story has some very Definite Ideas (tm) about women and "their place," whether they consciously realize it or not--and no, I don't think the male/female diametric was a conscious choice. I think someone simply regurgitated what one often sees in other, similar stories and didn't think too deeply about it.
The reason this bothers me so much is because it seems strange, especially in a book where each species was so well researched. For example, female scorpions are often larger and more aggressive than males (it can vary by species but these traits are not uncommon), and many spider species also have the same traits in their females--not surprising since both species are arachnids. Even many frog species have females that are significantly larger than the males. Considering how fully researched each of these critters were you'd think that the females would have been portrayed a little truer to their respective species, and their usefulness in non-traditional female roles considered accordingly (instead of lots of big male frog warriors, no big frog women, no women among the scorpions at all, etc.).
I didn't take off a full star for this--the star loss was a combination of formulaic and poor female presence (which can subtitle under formulaic). I was disappointed but not hugely surprised at the female issue, considering the type of story, and that (and yes, this may be unfair, but...) the story was the brain child of a male sports professional.
Would I recommend this read to others?:
Again, I rated this book at four stars and I stand by that rating.
This is a genuinely fun read and, despite some of the drawbacks that I, as an adult, couldn't ignore, these are drawbacks children will never see. Instead they'll be enthralled by the battles, the choices the heroes have to make, and the world the story is set in. And overall it's a good story, drawbacks included. Every author's fledgling offering should be so well done.
However, I would add one caveat: this book is STRICTLY for, and narrowly aimed at, young boys. I would recommend this to young men almost without reservation--the female issue is still not great, but there is enough female presence to put it above other stories aimed at young boys, plus enough media aimed at that demographic is currently trying to change the weird lack of females that I think they can balance this one read against other offerings.
For mothers of young girls I would suggest looking for reading material elsewhere or to read it with them so you can help them navigate the gender politics therein. There are role models for young men aplenty, but not so much for young women. And since it's still very difficult to find strong female role models who break out of traditional roles (and I mean more than just adding a few sword wielders to a battle epic) or who have presence equal to men without gender becoming a Big Honking Deal (tm) that honestly...maaaaaybe just give this one a pass.
Or make sure they pick up book two and don't stop at this one. The women get a little more screen time there and, while their roles are still often traditional, they are stronger and more unique and fully rounded characters overall.
I can't speak for book three yet.
October 25, 2024
2.85/5
This book was okay. However, it is not the best. Maybe it was because I had to take time off from reading this to write my own book, and therefore it seemed longer to me, but I found it kinda boring. There are many better animal fantasy books out there, such as warrior cats (the first series). All in all, the book just felt kind of "empty" to me. However, it was interesting seeing changes that were made from the adaptation of this book to the show, as someone who's watched the show. Still, neither this nor the show were the best. The best part of both is . She was awesome.
On another note, I have read some reviewers'' comments about the lack of female representation in these books. While I can see their point, as a girl myself, I did feel as though there were females in fighting roles like the males in this story. They were pretty much all indicated or background characters, however, so some might have a problem with that. I personally didn't as they weren't needed for the story, but I can see how it might be glaring to some people.
All in all, this was an okay read. Again, my long break from this book may have negatively affected my opinion, but I do know for sure that there are better middle grade animal fantasy books out there (warrior cats series 1!).'However, I am planning to read the other two books in this series, and my opinion on them may improve. I look forward to seeing the changes made from these books to the show.
This book was okay. However, it is not the best. Maybe it was because I had to take time off from reading this to write my own book, and therefore it seemed longer to me, but I found it kinda boring. There are many better animal fantasy books out there, such as warrior cats (the first series). All in all, the book just felt kind of "empty" to me. However, it was interesting seeing changes that were made from the adaptation of this book to the show, as someone who's watched the show. Still, neither this nor the show were the best. The best part of both is . She was awesome.
On another note, I have read some reviewers'' comments about the lack of female representation in these books. While I can see their point, as a girl myself, I did feel as though there were females in fighting roles like the males in this story. They were pretty much all indicated or background characters, however, so some might have a problem with that. I personally didn't as they weren't needed for the story, but I can see how it might be glaring to some people.
All in all, this was an okay read. Again, my long break from this book may have negatively affected my opinion, but I do know for sure that there are better middle grade animal fantasy books out there (warrior cats series 1!).'However, I am planning to read the other two books in this series, and my opinion on them may improve. I look forward to seeing the changes made from these books to the show.
August 27, 2019
It was certainly below my reading level, but enjoyable.
My biggest criticism is the different levels of realism applied to the animal characters. The frogs are reasonably realistic, for the most part. (Though less so for the tadpoles) Yet, the scorpions look more physiologically distorted than the frogs, almost as if they're scorpion-esque monsters rather than scorpions. The spiders are even worse: Queen Jarrah is the only one depicted, and she looks more like some bizarre elfin spider-centaur than a reasonably realistic spider. I understand giving them humanlike proportions makes it easier to imagine them carrying weapons and building humanlike objects, but Jarrah's design took anthropomorphization to an unreasonable degree. It's as if the artist was barely familiar with what spiders looked like.
My biggest criticism is the different levels of realism applied to the animal characters. The frogs are reasonably realistic, for the most part. (Though less so for the tadpoles) Yet, the scorpions look more physiologically distorted than the frogs, almost as if they're scorpion-esque monsters rather than scorpions. The spiders are even worse: Queen Jarrah is the only one depicted, and she looks more like some bizarre elfin spider-centaur than a reasonably realistic spider. I understand giving them humanlike proportions makes it easier to imagine them carrying weapons and building humanlike objects, but Jarrah's design took anthropomorphization to an unreasonable degree. It's as if the artist was barely familiar with what spiders looked like.
May 7, 2017
Fun read to go with Netflix cartoon.
July 6, 2017
Students who enjoy battles will like this book.
April 7, 2018
This was super cute! I love the frog world and the main characters. The illustrations are great as well. Looking forward to reading the next book.
October 13, 2018
I loves this book!
September 5, 2019
This counts, read through this with my 7yo. He loved it!
November 21, 2019
It was OK
April 4, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! I love frogs, so this is right up my alley. The show is also good.
March 30, 2021
The way that this was everything to me back in elementary.
July 6, 2022
4/5 for this one. Didn't know Netflix had a series based on this. Will watch it next.
August 25, 2022
Too young for me and not a very good story.
September 12, 2023
Read it with my son. Amazing illustrations and we loved the friendship between Daryl and Gee.
November 29, 2024
What a fun read!
I was totally immersed in the land of frogs, lizards, and spiders.
Darrel is a fun, relatable protagonist.
I was totally immersed in the land of frogs, lizards, and spiders.
Darrel is a fun, relatable protagonist.
June 26, 2025
Review to come
January 24, 2017
10th MHL book of 2016-2017.
October 24, 2017
So the book is called army of frogs by trevor pryce and he was a NFL player and his book is about a young frog warrior and he want to be a kulipari but he can’t because he has no poison in him and then he get’s into a fight with another frog and he goes out into the forest and finds that the scorpions and spiders have just ripped a veil which hides them from the scorps and spiders and that his best friend is captured gee and he goes into their camp pretending to be a sandpaper frog and tries to rescue his friend.
The book I thought was very good and I really liked it it was just the art that was pretty confusing. The art was kind of weird. But it did help see what the amphibalands looked like. I didn’t really like the ending I thought it was going to end of him becoming poisonous and I think that it would have been a lot better than it was. I did like the characters and you could tell how each character thought and there point of view. I’m not really sure about why it is in australia I think that that was pretty weird. What I really didn’t like about this series is that there is a religion and it kind of shows it and how it works and it’s almost like they want you to like now that religion it is pretty weird.
All in all though this book was really good. I would give it like 4 stars. And I would probably recommend this book to people who like fiction and a good fantasy. And I don’t think if you like science you would like it.
The book I thought was very good and I really liked it it was just the art that was pretty confusing. The art was kind of weird. But it did help see what the amphibalands looked like. I didn’t really like the ending I thought it was going to end of him becoming poisonous and I think that it would have been a lot better than it was. I did like the characters and you could tell how each character thought and there point of view. I’m not really sure about why it is in australia I think that that was pretty weird. What I really didn’t like about this series is that there is a religion and it kind of shows it and how it works and it’s almost like they want you to like now that religion it is pretty weird.
All in all though this book was really good. I would give it like 4 stars. And I would probably recommend this book to people who like fiction and a good fantasy. And I don’t think if you like science you would like it.
September 6, 2016
In the wilds of Australia are the Amphibilands; forest, swamp, and seashore habitats and villages inhabited by all species of frog and turtle. Protected by the magic of the Turtle King Segu, who raised the Veil to hide the Amphibilands from the rapacious scorpions and spiders, the frogs have prospered, interbred, and no longer feel any threat from the outside. The only dissenter is wood frog Darel, whose long-gone father was a Kulipari poison frog warrior, one of the many who helped defeat the scorpions the last time and allow Segu to raise the veil. Although he can never be Kulipari since he has no poison, Darel has trained himself as a warrior, along with his friend Gee. His other friend Coorah, a healer, is the only other frog who thinks there’s any more need for battlefield healing skills. Of course, Darel and Coorah are correct. The scorpions have joined with the deadly Spider Queen Jarrah to break the veil, invade the Amphibilands, eat all the occupants and inhabit the lush lands themselves. When Darel discovers the scorpion army waiting to attack, he knows the fate of the Amphibilands rests on his shoulders.
This is clearly a Disney movie in the making, with a Disney artist providing the beautiful illustrations, and a Disney-worthy and entirely predictable plot. Darel is a typical Disney hero and succeeds in typical Disney fashion. None of the characters has any particular depth or interest, and while the question of determining what’s ‘right’ is always a good one, the answers here are pretty obvious. Still, the world is wonderfully built and clearly the creators have spent enormous amounts of time thinking it through—they must have had lots of fun with it, and kids will have fun reading it. There’s lots of action, adventure, and heroism, and Coorah (who’s female) is right in the thick of it, which is a plus (there are also female Kulipari warriors as well). My one big complaint is that the chronology makes no sense. Darel’s father died in the last war, but we don’t know when that occurred. Darel has toddler-age siblings, but apparently the other Kulipari, who survived the war, bred a new generation that is now fully grown and ready to fight. That makes no sense. There’s also no sense of how long frogs in this world live; real tadpoles don’t take that long to grow, so if this is realistic, Darel’s father can’t have died all that long ago—not long enough for all the frogs to feel so secure from their success in the last war to abandon all discussion of it or nervousness about the scorpions. Just didn’t make sense to me. And Darel’s not even grown yet, but both he and his tadpole siblings must necessarily be older than the new Kulipari warriors bred after the last war, who are full adults. Huh? Okay, I’ll stop harping on it!
Oh, and one more thing. Most of the frogs and scorpions are drawn reasonably realistically, so why the heck is the spider queen drawn like Cruella DeVille as a dominatrix in a strapless leather bathing suit? Tasteless and unnecessary, and not in keeping with the rest of the illustrations.
This is clearly a Disney movie in the making, with a Disney artist providing the beautiful illustrations, and a Disney-worthy and entirely predictable plot. Darel is a typical Disney hero and succeeds in typical Disney fashion. None of the characters has any particular depth or interest, and while the question of determining what’s ‘right’ is always a good one, the answers here are pretty obvious. Still, the world is wonderfully built and clearly the creators have spent enormous amounts of time thinking it through—they must have had lots of fun with it, and kids will have fun reading it. There’s lots of action, adventure, and heroism, and Coorah (who’s female) is right in the thick of it, which is a plus (there are also female Kulipari warriors as well). My one big complaint is that the chronology makes no sense. Darel’s father died in the last war, but we don’t know when that occurred. Darel has toddler-age siblings, but apparently the other Kulipari, who survived the war, bred a new generation that is now fully grown and ready to fight. That makes no sense. There’s also no sense of how long frogs in this world live; real tadpoles don’t take that long to grow, so if this is realistic, Darel’s father can’t have died all that long ago—not long enough for all the frogs to feel so secure from their success in the last war to abandon all discussion of it or nervousness about the scorpions. Just didn’t make sense to me. And Darel’s not even grown yet, but both he and his tadpole siblings must necessarily be older than the new Kulipari warriors bred after the last war, who are full adults. Huh? Okay, I’ll stop harping on it!
Oh, and one more thing. Most of the frogs and scorpions are drawn reasonably realistically, so why the heck is the spider queen drawn like Cruella DeVille as a dominatrix in a strapless leather bathing suit? Tasteless and unnecessary, and not in keeping with the rest of the illustrations.
April 16, 2013
What can a group of frogs do when their home is attacked by an army of scorpions, spiders, and lizards? Darel is a young frog who lives with his mother and siblings, along with his friends Gurnugan or Gee, Coorah, Arabanoo, their families, and all the other frogs under the leadership of Chief Olba in the Amphibilands of Australia. For years, they have been protected by an elite group of poisonous frogs known as the Kulipari and by the dreamcasting spell of the Turtle King Sergu. However, the scorpions want the Amphibilands, and in the previous battle of the Hidingwar, when King Sergu set up his protecting veil, the Kulipari were nearly destroyed and those left went away to regroup. One of them was Darel’s father. Most believe that Darel’s father was killed, but Darel still thinks that he may be alive.
Now the scorpions under Lord Marmoo and Commander Pigo have joined forces with the spiders under Queen Jarrah who had learned dreamcasting from Sergu but then turned it into nightcasting for evil purposes. She believes that she can destroy the veil, thus allowing the scorpions and spiders to conquer the Amphibilands. While out on a mission to gather flowers for the healers’ medicines, Darel and Gee happen to see the invaders’ advance party, but when Gee runs back to warn the other frogs, he is captured. Darel first needs to rescue him from the scorpion camp, and then they hopefully can get across the Outback to notify the Turtle King and see if they can find the Kulipari. Will they make it? Will the frogs be able to defend their homes from the scorpions? And will Darel ever find his father?
An Army of Frogs is the first of an intended series of Kulipari novels. The plot by Trevor Pryce, a fourteen-year veteran of the National Football League, with Joel Naftali is certainly action-packed, and will be great for reluctant readers with its short chapters and fast pace. Also, though it is fantasy fiction, it has a bit of natural science information about frogs, scorpions, spiders, and other animals of Australia. And the cartoon-like drawings by illustrator Sanford Greene will appeal to comic book aficionados. The authors do seem to use the word “butt,” as in “kick butt” and “get your skinny green butt in here,” several times. Many parents will have no problem with this, but some find that it gets a little old after a while. Otherwise, there is really nothing objectionable, just an imaginative and exciting adventure story with a classic good versus evil theme, a likeable hero, and a surprise ending.
Now the scorpions under Lord Marmoo and Commander Pigo have joined forces with the spiders under Queen Jarrah who had learned dreamcasting from Sergu but then turned it into nightcasting for evil purposes. She believes that she can destroy the veil, thus allowing the scorpions and spiders to conquer the Amphibilands. While out on a mission to gather flowers for the healers’ medicines, Darel and Gee happen to see the invaders’ advance party, but when Gee runs back to warn the other frogs, he is captured. Darel first needs to rescue him from the scorpion camp, and then they hopefully can get across the Outback to notify the Turtle King and see if they can find the Kulipari. Will they make it? Will the frogs be able to defend their homes from the scorpions? And will Darel ever find his father?
An Army of Frogs is the first of an intended series of Kulipari novels. The plot by Trevor Pryce, a fourteen-year veteran of the National Football League, with Joel Naftali is certainly action-packed, and will be great for reluctant readers with its short chapters and fast pace. Also, though it is fantasy fiction, it has a bit of natural science information about frogs, scorpions, spiders, and other animals of Australia. And the cartoon-like drawings by illustrator Sanford Greene will appeal to comic book aficionados. The authors do seem to use the word “butt,” as in “kick butt” and “get your skinny green butt in here,” several times. Many parents will have no problem with this, but some find that it gets a little old after a while. Otherwise, there is really nothing objectionable, just an imaginative and exciting adventure story with a classic good versus evil theme, a likeable hero, and a surprise ending.
May 8, 2013
I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of this book and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it - not because it was written by a former professional football player, but because it was about frogs. I'm not against them, but I'm not a big frog fan (outside of Kermit).
Set in the Australian Outback, the story is about a young frog named Darel who has lost his father in a very violent war, when he was just a tadpole. For many children these days, sadly, that can be a reality and it is nice to see a story touch on it without belaboring the point. It gives them a touchstone to Darel and an aspect they can relate to. The young frog himself wishes to be a great warrior like his Father, but he doesn't just dream of it, he actually trains and works hard to do so - against the nature of his status as a Wood Frog and against the disapproving village he lives in. His mother is loving and supportive, but without being a bit of fluff. There is strength in her and how she has tried to raise her children.
Darel is also very faithful to his friend Gee and when things happen, the young frog is forced to make very adult decisions. One of which is the answer to the question of doing what is right... and how do you know when to do that - especially when there are different answers to the question and none of them are necessarily wrong?
The story is exciting enough to keep a young reader entertained and it is definitely a new flavor in the juvenile book venue, with lovely animated illustrations. Having it set in Australia is an interesting choice and may spark some desire for a child to learn more about a country that is real, but so different from their own. And certainly, Australia has a magic of its own to share.
On the downside, it can plod a bit here and there as Mr. Pryce tries to cover many aspects of the story from different angles and the timing gets a little wonky here and there. Its clear that he is a new writer, but I think with some work and continued writing, he can become an excellent new voice in the field.
Overall, this was a really fun book and will be good for kids who love to read and is a great way to get new readers (especially boys). There are a lot of interesting aspects that may help some kids think differently about doing what's right and being true to their friends and the book brings up those ideas without being preachy. Very impressive first step out Mr. Pryce and I look forward to more in the Kulipari novels!
Set in the Australian Outback, the story is about a young frog named Darel who has lost his father in a very violent war, when he was just a tadpole. For many children these days, sadly, that can be a reality and it is nice to see a story touch on it without belaboring the point. It gives them a touchstone to Darel and an aspect they can relate to. The young frog himself wishes to be a great warrior like his Father, but he doesn't just dream of it, he actually trains and works hard to do so - against the nature of his status as a Wood Frog and against the disapproving village he lives in. His mother is loving and supportive, but without being a bit of fluff. There is strength in her and how she has tried to raise her children.
Darel is also very faithful to his friend Gee and when things happen, the young frog is forced to make very adult decisions. One of which is the answer to the question of doing what is right... and how do you know when to do that - especially when there are different answers to the question and none of them are necessarily wrong?
The story is exciting enough to keep a young reader entertained and it is definitely a new flavor in the juvenile book venue, with lovely animated illustrations. Having it set in Australia is an interesting choice and may spark some desire for a child to learn more about a country that is real, but so different from their own. And certainly, Australia has a magic of its own to share.
On the downside, it can plod a bit here and there as Mr. Pryce tries to cover many aspects of the story from different angles and the timing gets a little wonky here and there. Its clear that he is a new writer, but I think with some work and continued writing, he can become an excellent new voice in the field.
Overall, this was a really fun book and will be good for kids who love to read and is a great way to get new readers (especially boys). There are a lot of interesting aspects that may help some kids think differently about doing what's right and being true to their friends and the book brings up those ideas without being preachy. Very impressive first step out Mr. Pryce and I look forward to more in the Kulipari novels!
August 17, 2016
I had seen An Army of Frogs at the library. I had checked it out twice. It looked interesting. It looked fun. But I couldn't get into it. I groaned when I saw it come up on the Lovelace nominee list for 2016-17. I was not looking forward to forcing myself to read it all the way through when I hadn't previously been able to get past the second chapter.
Now that I have done so I can absolutely say that I am glad I did. An Army of Frogs tells the story of Darel, a wood frog in Australia whose father was one of a great warrior frog species called the Kulipari. Kulipari frogs are brightly colored and actually possess poison with which to defeat their enemies. Because Darel is only HALF Kulipari he has neither of those distinctive traits. But ever since he can remember, Darel has wanted to BE a Kulipari. To make up for his lack of inherent Kulipari qualities Darel trains...and trains...and trains. He practices sparring and stealth, dragging his best friend Gee into the adventures with him--usually in the role of his mock opponent.
An Army of Frogs was a surprise to me in that, based on the first couple chapters, I thought it would be one battle description after another--but it is not. Readers watch Darel grow a great deal from the first to the final pages of his story. He learns the value of friendship, how easy it is to take a good friend for granted and that being a good friend often involves hard choices. He and his friends learn about the reality of courage and integrity, replacing their imagined fantasies about the glories of battle and war.
In addition to these valuable insights--absolutely relevant in the lives of young readers--An Army of Frogs ends up being a really good story about magic, good and evil and young heroes in the making. The villains--the scorpion commander Lord Maramoo and the evil Spider Queen Jarrah are magnificently evil and easy to root against. A classic underdog story, the first in a trilogy, Trevor Pryce has created a fantastic new fantasy realm for upper elementary readers. The illustrations by Sanford Greene--a fantastic Marvel Comics artist--are stunning and in the tradition of the best comics and graphic novels.
Young readers who enjoy works like Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Marvel & DC Universe, etc. will LOVE An Army of Frogs! I certainly did!
Now that I have done so I can absolutely say that I am glad I did. An Army of Frogs tells the story of Darel, a wood frog in Australia whose father was one of a great warrior frog species called the Kulipari. Kulipari frogs are brightly colored and actually possess poison with which to defeat their enemies. Because Darel is only HALF Kulipari he has neither of those distinctive traits. But ever since he can remember, Darel has wanted to BE a Kulipari. To make up for his lack of inherent Kulipari qualities Darel trains...and trains...and trains. He practices sparring and stealth, dragging his best friend Gee into the adventures with him--usually in the role of his mock opponent.
An Army of Frogs was a surprise to me in that, based on the first couple chapters, I thought it would be one battle description after another--but it is not. Readers watch Darel grow a great deal from the first to the final pages of his story. He learns the value of friendship, how easy it is to take a good friend for granted and that being a good friend often involves hard choices. He and his friends learn about the reality of courage and integrity, replacing their imagined fantasies about the glories of battle and war.
In addition to these valuable insights--absolutely relevant in the lives of young readers--An Army of Frogs ends up being a really good story about magic, good and evil and young heroes in the making. The villains--the scorpion commander Lord Maramoo and the evil Spider Queen Jarrah are magnificently evil and easy to root against. A classic underdog story, the first in a trilogy, Trevor Pryce has created a fantastic new fantasy realm for upper elementary readers. The illustrations by Sanford Greene--a fantastic Marvel Comics artist--are stunning and in the tradition of the best comics and graphic novels.
Young readers who enjoy works like Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Marvel & DC Universe, etc. will LOVE An Army of Frogs! I certainly did!
March 13, 2013
Frogs, scorpions, spiders, oh my! Now, usually when presented with anything creepy crawly or crittery, I get myself as far away as possible...but, An Army of Frogs was such a delightful surprise, with an utterly charming cast of critters and enthralling story.
Author Trevor Pryce has concocted a thrilling tale of one small frog's adventures against deadly scorpion soldiers and a witchy spider. Darel dreams of joining the Kulipari, an elite group of warrior frogs, but can't because he isn't a poisonous frog. His home, the Amphibilands, is protected by a spell cast by the turtle king, but when Lord Marmoo, the scorpion leader, and the Spider Queen team up to invade the Amphibilands, Darel and his friends must find their inner warriors to save their home.
Trevor Pryce has spun a whimsical, action-packed story that is an exciting mix of adventure, magic, and natural science. An Army of Frogs is stuffed full with cool animal characters, enchanting settings, and captivating storytelling. Pryce writes with an engaging and entertaining middle-grade voice that will have younger readers absolutely absorbed.
The richly and vividly crafted Amphibilands and Australian terrain make for awesome settings. Pryce has come up with an entire world within our world and filled this imaginative world with colorful plant life, a froggy community with homes; stores; nurseries; and more, and lots of likable characters. Young readers will love getting swept into this cinematic landscape. Darel's daring adventures are full of danger (crocodiles!), fierce scorpion battles, and fun humor.
Talking animal characters can be a hit or miss with me, but the characters in An Army of Frogs are all a definite hit! Pryce has created a fun cast of quirky characters. Darel is a spunky, brave frog who goes from underdog to true warrior, and he has two awesome friends. Lord Marmoo and the Spider Queen are deliciously devious villains.
Sanford Greene's spectacular and fun illustrations throughout the book are the perfect companion to Pryce's story and make Dare's adventures come to life.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: An Army of Frogs is a hopping good middle-grade debut! Young readers will love the colorful characters and thrilling story, and will be eagerly awaiting the next book.
Author Trevor Pryce has concocted a thrilling tale of one small frog's adventures against deadly scorpion soldiers and a witchy spider. Darel dreams of joining the Kulipari, an elite group of warrior frogs, but can't because he isn't a poisonous frog. His home, the Amphibilands, is protected by a spell cast by the turtle king, but when Lord Marmoo, the scorpion leader, and the Spider Queen team up to invade the Amphibilands, Darel and his friends must find their inner warriors to save their home.
Trevor Pryce has spun a whimsical, action-packed story that is an exciting mix of adventure, magic, and natural science. An Army of Frogs is stuffed full with cool animal characters, enchanting settings, and captivating storytelling. Pryce writes with an engaging and entertaining middle-grade voice that will have younger readers absolutely absorbed.
The richly and vividly crafted Amphibilands and Australian terrain make for awesome settings. Pryce has come up with an entire world within our world and filled this imaginative world with colorful plant life, a froggy community with homes; stores; nurseries; and more, and lots of likable characters. Young readers will love getting swept into this cinematic landscape. Darel's daring adventures are full of danger (crocodiles!), fierce scorpion battles, and fun humor.
Talking animal characters can be a hit or miss with me, but the characters in An Army of Frogs are all a definite hit! Pryce has created a fun cast of quirky characters. Darel is a spunky, brave frog who goes from underdog to true warrior, and he has two awesome friends. Lord Marmoo and the Spider Queen are deliciously devious villains.
Sanford Greene's spectacular and fun illustrations throughout the book are the perfect companion to Pryce's story and make Dare's adventures come to life.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS: An Army of Frogs is a hopping good middle-grade debut! Young readers will love the colorful characters and thrilling story, and will be eagerly awaiting the next book.
September 7, 2014
Darel has spent his whole life yearning to be one of the legendary Kulipari, a group of frog warriors who saved the Amphibilands and the turtle king from destruction at the hands of scorpion and spider armies. Darel's father was one of these mighty frogs, tapping into his natural poison to fight enemies and giving his life to save his people. But unlike his father, Darel does not have natural poison and instead takes after his wood frog mother, although this doesn't prevent him from practicing to be a great fighter. Suddenly the magical Veil that has protected the Amphibilands for generations is threatened and Darel finds himself far from home and surrounded by vicious enemies. He may be the only one in a position to save the frogs and their allies - but how?
I thought this book was well done, but I don't think the animal fantasy genre is for me. I picked this one up because as far as I could tell, most of the animal fantasy books we have in the library feature mammals or possibly birds. So it's a little unique that the characters in this book are amphibians, reptiles, and insects. I was impressed with the way that the frog characters are very frog-like. The way their movements, thoughts, and language are depicted is less human-like than maybe I was expecting. There are some nice, colorful illustrations here as well. As I was reading this, I found myself wondering if the reason that there are many animal fantasy books about war is that war books featuring human people would be considered too intense and scary for children. When I mentally replaced the characters with human beings, I felt squeamish that scorpions were being casually killed by their superiors and that their tents were made of frogskin. Eww. But maybe that's okay when it's animals?
I would recommend this book for grades 3-7, especially fans of adventure and animal fantasy. Readlikes could include any of the many animal fantasy series like the Warriors series (and others) by Erin Hunter, the Guardians of Ga'Hoole or Wolves of the Beyond series by Kathryn Lasky, or even the Spirit Animals series. I also saw one review that compared this book to the Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins, which I haven't read.
I thought this book was well done, but I don't think the animal fantasy genre is for me. I picked this one up because as far as I could tell, most of the animal fantasy books we have in the library feature mammals or possibly birds. So it's a little unique that the characters in this book are amphibians, reptiles, and insects. I was impressed with the way that the frog characters are very frog-like. The way their movements, thoughts, and language are depicted is less human-like than maybe I was expecting. There are some nice, colorful illustrations here as well. As I was reading this, I found myself wondering if the reason that there are many animal fantasy books about war is that war books featuring human people would be considered too intense and scary for children. When I mentally replaced the characters with human beings, I felt squeamish that scorpions were being casually killed by their superiors and that their tents were made of frogskin. Eww. But maybe that's okay when it's animals?
I would recommend this book for grades 3-7, especially fans of adventure and animal fantasy. Readlikes could include any of the many animal fantasy series like the Warriors series (and others) by Erin Hunter, the Guardians of Ga'Hoole or Wolves of the Beyond series by Kathryn Lasky, or even the Spirit Animals series. I also saw one review that compared this book to the Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins, which I haven't read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews