Toad

by Ruth Brown

The slimey, sticky toad gets swallowed for dinner by a monster and then, surprisingly, is spat back out, in an amusing tale with rhyming text and detailed, watercolor illustrations.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Born in 1941, Ruth Brown is the creator of some of Britain's best loved children's books. She has created a great many picture books for Andersen Press and is highly respected as an author and illustrator.
She attended Bournemouth College of Art, 1957–59; Birmingham College of Art, degree (with first-class honors), 1961; Royal College of Art, M.A., 1964.
She is married to artist Ken Brown and they have two grown-up sons and one grandchild.

Reviews

[Cassandra Gelvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anti-toad propaganda.

There's a toad. The book describes him, using a bunch of adjectives such as "horrible" and "disgusting" and "clumsy", basically a complete failure of an animal. Then a larger, unknown animal (maybe a Gila monster?) tries to eat the toad but then spits it out because the toad's slime is poisonous or tastes bad or something.

I don't know. The illustrations are very interesting. The interior flap describes them as "gruesome." They seem to be watercolor, possibly with added ink. The only interesting part of this book is the end, the climax where the monster yells, "Yuuuuuck!" and spits out the toad. I don't think you could learn very much about toads from this, so it's not very educational. It's not a very long story. It's just too simplistic. Most of it is pretty boring and mundane.

Message: Some toads taste disgusting.

For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fantastic art style and vocabulary, terrific plot, but the toad is using it's front legs as if they're hands!

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art here is wonderful; the story . . . not so much. I almost wish this had been a wordless book.

[Amy Stalder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the rhythmic nature to this book, this is something that children would find engaging, alongside the detailed illustrations. This would be a great book to use when thinking about descriptive language with children and making their work more interesting through language choices. It could be used alongside a WABOLL example for children to discover the different effect it has upon the reader through the vocabulary choices that are made. As well as developing children's range/breadth of vocabulary, there were lots of instances where alliteration was used which gave the book that rhythmic nature. Although the vocabulary used was varied and interesting it would be important to make sure that during the reading children know what some of the more challenging words mean in order to fully understand the text.

[Lydia McGregor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially this book was going to receive a “no” from me but despite my opening thoughts on how gross & simplistic this story seemed, my toddlers BEGGED for me to read it over & over again. I thought it strange how they deemed the book “scary”, even crying at some parts, but they continued to reach for it & that’s when it hit me- they are enjoying that it is making them feel something, even if that feeling is their stomach turning & that’s the mark of great literature! The illustrations are amazing & the describing words are haunting but ultimately, reading it a myriad of times has swayed me to deciding that it is a fun read, after all. (Would be great around Halloween!) I would check this out again.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a fan of all things frog and toad, I had to read this book. The front cover sucked me and then I was delighted by that gorgeous artwork and the delightful language. I can imagine using this a mento text for writing because the text is juicy with descriptive vocabulary. In the end we discover that many of toad’s qualities that make it, “A muddy toad, an mucky toad, a clammy, sticky, gooey toad, odorous, oozing, foul and filthy, and dripping with venomous fluid.” are the qualities that keep it safe!

[Amanda Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Informational Nonfiction Age: K-2nd
This book was good because it describes toads and their habitats. It gives kids an insight into the life of a toad, by showing them what they eat and the predators they fear. This would be a good book to read in class when talking about amphibians. The adjectives that were used in the book were very descriptive and vivid, which I really appreciated because it allows kids to paint a good picture of what a toad looks like. Overall, I really liked this book!

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it it twice! I wasn't sure about this book until the second read. The vocabulary is rich and textured. The story is funny and full of information about how toads defend themselves. If you use voices it it entertaining to you too.
I checked it out from the library 2 months ago and have had to check it out 3 times. I may want motivational posters made from this book

[Chloe Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this story were really good using the browns and green to represent nature. There were lots of adjectives used and the sentences went over many pages. I think this would have worked well without words too. I would use this book to look at animals and habitats.

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars--The artwork was delightful, but the text seems oddly hateful toward its subject matter. In fact, it makes these helpful animals seem downright dangerous to be around. What with traffic, pollution, and habitat loss, don't amphibians already have it tough enough?

[Linita Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this book. It's the best when teaching adjectives!

[Staciel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just re-read this one..
My son enjoyed this one when he was little-- great vocabulary used in the story, such as;

"He's nasty, septic, toxic, and bitter, and he leaves a slimy trail."

[Carlie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Fiction
Grade: Preschool-2nd
Review: this book gives a good idea of what toads do, what they eat, and where they live. It’ll give kids the knowledge of a toads habitat.

[K.C. Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an incredible vocabulary study! Well done!

[Abby Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow to the language , the illustrations and the twist ending!!!

[Emmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

whirlwind of an adventure, very powerful journey. challenges societies perceptions of big stinkers. just gross boys. nasty gnarly and disgusting toads. 5 stars.

[zunggg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heavily-adjectivised toad is stalked by a ferocious reptoid. But the biter is bit when we learn that toads taste absolutely awful.

[Miss Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of toad, a muddy toad as he goes through his day.

[Ryann Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Modern Fantasy
Grade k-2
I like the illustrations in this book. I think it would be a good book to work on adjectives and vocabulary. I really liked the details in the illustrations of this book, along with the plot twist at the end.

[Maya Geissinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grade Level: 2nd- 5th Genre:Modern Fantasy
This books illustrations were amazing! It was so detailed and precise, it seemed like you could touch the page and feel the bumps on the toad's back. This book has some good alliteration and other elements. it's is just a fun book to read, but it wasn't my type of book because I do not like toads that much.

[C. (Comment, don't blank click reviews). · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have not heard of Ruth Brown because she seems to be British. I found this book secondhand and love art as well as children’s stories. There are many excellent books the world over and mediocre ones, making you wonder how they got published. Still, if I see harsh feedback about a children’s book, I wonder if it was fair and how bad a tiny little toddler story could be. I am sorry that this time, I agree and only give it two stars, myself.

I will reveal upfront that I am an animal lover through and through. They are equal beings: never edible, never to kill, confine, experiment on, nor refer to with the awful word “owner”. Our cats are family rather than pets. Outside our home in nature, are toads and frogs whom I care about very much. In dry summers, we kept a hose going in a ditch for weeks so their tadpoles had enough water to finish metamorphosing safely. There were close calls and relief came to my heart at seeing living tadpoles and new baby toads and frogs. There is joy every time I see them on our sidewalks at night and in the grass and upon leaves in daylight.

“Toad” 1996 is very beautifully, realistically, colourfully, poignantly, and skilfully illustrated by Ruth. That is why I gave a second star, besides symbolizing support and solidarity with the amphibians I love.

Toddler text is obviously brief, to the point, and spare. However, countless artists and authors succeed at writing sparse phrases for babies that are uplifting, positive, musical in feeling and sound to hear, educational, soothing, and fun.

Ruth was rude and negative. This book will not be given to anyone we know, nor wait to be sold. I want it out of our house.

[Taylor Troncin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was read for Wesley’s summer reading club. Wesley is my (soon to be five year old) son. This review is what we used for his reading club.
***

This was not the story we were expecting. However, Wesley liked the story (he actually just saw a frog last week, so he liked looking at the pictures of the toad).

[midnightfaerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great read by Ruth Brown. Besides the wonderfully dark illustrations, this one has some wonderful descriptive words like nasty, septic, and toxic to describe the toad. A great book for learning new words and keeping all ages engaged. Probably around a level 1 reading level. Highly recommend Ruth Brown.

[Bayleigh Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

There wasn't much of a story in this book. The author did a good job using descriptive words to make you see the scene. Also the illustrations were great. The story was just simple. A frog gets eaten, and because he is so gross, the monster spits him out. Therefore he is self confident. This could be used as an introduction to a self confidence lesson. I would use this for ages 5-7.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a HUGE frog and toad fan and this book is absolutely GREAT! It will increase a child's vocabulary and they'll want you to read it again and again. It is an older title so if your library doesn't have it, you might have to track it down online.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toad by Ruth Brown is about a toad. In the story, it describes how the toad looks and what the toad does. Kids will love the descriptions the author makes and the pictures of the toad. It can be used in the classroom to talk about adjectives. It is full of adjectives.

[Christe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like books with a fun surprise. This one changes tone in the middle of the book, and I like the effect.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of an intelligent toad who keeps himself as slimy and nasty as possible so predators won't want to eat him. Great use of alliterative descriptors for his sliminess and muckiness.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always loved Ruth Brown's illustrations. Here, combined with simple text, she brings to life what it's like to be a toad. Great book for little kids!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and perfect for children who enjoy gross descriptions.