Frog and the Stranger

Kikker

by Max Velthuijs, David Tsai (Translation)

Frog helps his friends learn that Rat, a stranger, is not bad just because he's different.

English-Chinese dual language edition

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Max Velthuijs was a celebrated Dutch illustrator, painter, and author best known for his beloved Frog picture book series. Although he began illustrating children’s books relatively late in life, his work quickly gained international acclaim. His first major success came with A is een aapje in 1964, and he achieved global recognition with Frog in Love, published in 1989 by Andersen Press after it was initially rejected in Europe. The Frog series, which eventually included over twenty titles, became known for its gentle, heartfelt storytelling and philosophical depth, earning Velthuijs comparisons to modern-day fables.
Throughout his career, Velthuijs collaborated with prominent publishers and saw his books translated and performed in various media, including theater. In 2004, he was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for writing—one of the highest honors in children’s literature—for his enduring contribution to the field. In his acceptance speech, Velthuijs humbly reflected on the emotional complexity of his characters, acknowledging the mystery of creative inspiration. He passed away in his hometown of The Hague in 2005.

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Voorafgaand aan de doorgifte aan iemand uit de jeugdige doelgroep, zelf ‘gesnoept’ van dit verhaaltje van Kikker. De vreemdeling uit de titel is een rat. De meeste dieren hebben vooroordelen tegen deze bezoeker, maar die verkeren door de daden van de bezoeker in het tegendeel. Aardig getekend verhaal met een moraal, maar niet te belerend. JM

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in Dutch as Kikker en de vreemdeling, this fourth entry in acclaimed artist and author Max Velthuijs' Frog series explores the ugliness of prejudice, presenting a believable tale about a stranger, and the divisions his coming creates, in the small community in which he settles. When Rat arrives on the scene, camping out by the river, Frog is intrigued, but Pig and Duck are both dismayed. As "everyone knows," they claim, rats are dirty thieves. Although Hare - the wise one of the bunch, to whom the others usually go for advice and answers - declares that Rat has as much right to be there as any of them, Pig and Duck continue in their hostility, and resent Frog's efforts to befriend the newcomer. What will it take for that porcine/anatine duo to relent...?

A tale which emphasizes the sheer unreasoning stupidity of prejudice, its impervious resistance to reality - although Pig and Duck's arguments about Rat are demonstrably false, they cannot be convinced of their error, even by the evidence of their own eyes - Frog and the Stranger has an immensely poignant quality to it. Of the four Frog stories I have read thus far, I think that it is my favorite, and while the resolution of Pig and Duck's campaign against Rat felt a little too convenient to me, I thought Velthuijs' depiction of their initial bias was spot on. Highly recommended, for anyone looking for picture-books addressing themes of diversity and tolerance, as well as to fans of Velthuijs' charming artwork.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kikker en de vreemdeling

Op een dag komt er een vreemdeling in het bos wonen. Rat. De andere dieren in het bos vinden het maar niks dat er iemand komt wonen die zij niet kennen. Ze zijn er dan ook sceptisch over. Kikker is degene die vriendjes wordt met Rat en de andere bosbewoners laat zien dat Rat heel leuk is en geen verkeerd persoon om mee om te gaan. Sterker nog iedereen zou bevriend moeten zijn met Rat!


De boeken van Kikker hebben altijd een goed thema, zijn mooi vormgegeven en je leeft helemaal met Kikker en zijn vrienden mee. Voor kinderen zijn de boeken van Kikker reuze leerzaam! Ik raad het daarom ook aan om een kikker boek voor te lezen aan peuters / kleuters.

[Sanja_Sanjalica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great message.

[Carla Boekema · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boek gekocht in Kamp Westerbork .
Zouden alle kleine - maar ook grote mensen moeten lezen.

[Rayn · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Je moet niet met zo'n smerige rat omgaan,' zei ze boos.
'Maar waarom dan niet?' vroeg Kikker.
'Hij is anders,' zei Eend.
'Anders?' zei Kikker. 'We zijn toch allemaal anders.'

[Jacob W.]

Ik vind het nog wat moeilijk doorkomen. Misschien later als ik groter ben nog eens proberen. Schijnt een goed verhaal te hebben met een fijne moraal

[Tanveer]

First book I've read in Urdu!

[Inger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit boek had ik bij de bibliotheek geleend en ik had het idee dat er wat bladzijden ontbraken of dat er iets veranderd was in de volgorde. Gelukkig had ik het boek al eerder gelezen en wist ik nu wel weer hoe het ging.
Een waardevol en mooi verhaal dat ook in deze tijd weer goed van toepassing is. Mooi boek om mee te laten zien dat iedereen goede kanten heeft en vooroordelen vaak onjuist zijn.

[Yvon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mooi verhaal dat goed aansluit bij de multiculturele samenleving. Op een kindvriendelijke manier wordt verteld dat je er anders uit kan zien, maar dat je daardoor niet minder bent. Gooi de vooroordelen overboord! (5e boek voor boekenbingo 2016)

[Aleta · Rating 5 out of 5]

People who are different become good friends. I love this series of children's books!

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eén van mijn favoriete kikkerverhalen. Over anders zijn en dat dit helemaal niet erg is. Leuk om te lezen met een anderstalig gezin. Mama herkende veel uit het verhaal.

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 4 out of 5]

عنوان ترجمه فارسی: قورباغه و غریبه

[Graham Seibert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Je l'ai lu en russe et ecrive cette critique en anglais. Un peu maladroit, mais toute le meme interessante.

One day the frog notices somebody new in the neighborhood. He goes back and tells his friends, the rabbit, the pig and the duck. They ask him about the stranger.

The stranger is a rat. The other animals all react quite predictably. Rats are dirty, aggressive, lazy, and given to stealing. We've got to get him out of here!

The frog isn't convinced. He wants to see with his own eyes. He starts hanging out where he can observe the rat at his encampment by the side of a stream. He observes that the rat does his own cooking, and it smells good. The rat takes a bath every day. He keeps his campsite clean. He reports that his back to his friends, but they are not swayed.

The frog boldly goes up and introduces himself one day. The rat says yeah, I've seen you hanging around, let's talk. And he invites the frog to sit down on the bench that he has built with a beautiful view out over the water. The rat tells the frog about his life. He is been to a great many countries, including China. He speaks three languages. In my Russian edition of this tale the other two are French and English. He has worked at a great many trades.

The frog is duly impressed. He notes that his friend the rabbit speaks only one language. But still the other animals are standoffish.

Then they find themselves in trouble. The pig's house catches on fire and the rat rushes in with water to put it out. The rabbit almost drowns, and the rat comes to the rescue. Three or four such episodes and the animals start to change their opinion. The rat becomes accepted as one of them.

The book closes with the frog going down one day to see the rat and finds that he has packed his tent into his backpack and is headed off. The frog is surprised and disappointed. The other animals turn out to see him off. He has seen all of the world, but not America, and that's what he wants to see next.

As another reviewer notes, this book is rather preachy. The rat is not very modest in the way he tells the frog how many languages he speaks and how much he can do. The book does not inquire whatsoever into why the pig, rabbit and duck might hold the opinions that they do. And it has the rat rather ungraciously remind them as he departs that the "dirty, lazy, dishonest" rat won't be with them anymore. The book may be a morality tale about prejudice, but as far as manners go, it comes up short.

In real life we live close to a bunch of Gypsies. They have taken up residence in abandoned houses along the right-of-way for a new Metro line. The houses are run down, unheated, and unkempt with trash and laundry in the yards. The Gypsies earn their living collecting plastic and old bottles and selling flowers in the city. They have large families. The neighborhood mothers move their kids elsewhere when the Gypsies show up on the beach. The mom-and-pop storekeepers don't trust them and treat them with a certain disrespect. Yet, I have not heard of any theft. We often sit next to them on in the back of the little bus to our neighborhood. One will ask me politely about my son, and I ask about her (seven) kids. Our population of Gypsies does not so closely fit the mold of social parasites. Though none appear trilingual (we converse in Russian; none even try English) and they are materially poor, they mind their own business.

I think that my son is better served by learning about the world as it is, seeing it, as the frog does, with his own eyes. But, yet he should not discount the opinions of pigs, ducks and rabbits. Most such opinion is based on some life experience. I am happy this story is in book format, so we can talk about it, and that he is reading it at home rather than getting the story in a school setting. It needs some perspective.

The vocabulary, pacing, and illustrations are good. I am glad that my son enjoys the book and that he can relate it to the world around him.

[Nena Heesakkers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik vind de boeken van Kikker altijd een succes. In dit verhaal zit stiekem een harde boodschap waar de maatschappij tegenover meer mee te maken heeft. Direct negatief denken over iemand die ze niet kennen, een vreemdeling. Maar het verhaal maakt een mooie twist dat je iedereen een kans moet geven. Het is dan ook jammer als rat aan het eind van het verhaal weer op reis gaat.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loistava kuvakirja erilaisuudesta ja erilaisuuden kammoamisesta! Kirjaa lukiessa mietin, käännettäisiinkö teksti näin ronskisti nykypäivänä. Teksti toisaalta tehosti tarinaa omalla tavallaan, teki siitä todentuntuisemman. Lukisin tämän mielelläni myös päiväkodissa lapsille.

[Laura Summers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used this to teach from. The pictures were a good source of discussion and the children wrote alternative endings to the story which were well thought out. The book was simple so my lower children really engaged.

[Mia Margarete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lettlest og god barnebok om utenforskap, diskriminering og rasisme. Hvordan reagerer vi når vi møter nye mennesker? Hvordan behandler vi dem? Og hvorfor må noen stadig forsvare seg selv før de rekker å la noen bli kjent med dem? Reflekterende bok som passer bra i barnehager

[Jenna Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely

[Asaf Araya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un gran mensaje, me hubiera gustado leer más

[Grevinnen av Gral · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nydeleg klassiker

[Nati Lucha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Gita · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,3*

[Caro Serneels]

3-6j

[Joeri Dassen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooi kinderverhaal met prachtige illustraties.

[Melissa Macfarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story helps to teach about discrimination. It gives clear and very current examples of what discrimination is and how it can be portrayed in a number of different ways. The books deals with a character that moves into frogs town who is not from the area and how frog and his friends treat this new friend. This type of situation is very current and important for children to discuss, particularly children living in multicultural areas like London. The moral seems to be acceptance and that just because we don't understand something or someone, it does not make them bad or scary. It teaches that difference should be explored, accepted and celebrated. Frog also shows the reader that just because others around you are treating someone unkindly, this does not mean you have to imitate this behavior. You are free to make your own decisions and it is ok to have different opinions than someone else.

[Silvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een boek van alle tijden, maar ook zeker in deze tijd van heel veel vluchtelingen. Max Velthuijs weet het onderwerp anders zijn/ vooroordelen prachtig te vertalen naar begrijpelijke taal voor kinderen. Zoals alle boeken over kikker is deze dan ook heel goed te gebruiken in de klas om dit onderwerp te bespreken.

[Ivenka · Rating 4 out of 5]

In het bos is een nieuw dier komen wonen, Rat. Alle dieren van het bos zitten vol vooroordelen over Rat en hij wordt niet geaccepteerd. Maar kikker gaat op onderzoek uit en merkt dat rat in plaats van vies, lui en brutaal juist heel schoon, behulpzaam en actief is. Mooi boek en goed te gebruiken om met jonge kids te praten over discriminatie/racisme. Maar het is ook een leuk boek over vriendschap

[Hymerka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Усім звірятам на цій землі — чорним чи білим, синім чи жовтим, червоним чи зеленим, смугастим чи плямистим...

Гарна оповідка для найменшеньких про те, що "ліс належить усім". Допоможе з найперших років вигнати з маленьких голівок потворного звіра ксенофобії.

[Julia Jarlbäck · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a child!