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Frog Bride
A Russian tsar tells each of his three sons to shoot an arrow and marry the woman he finds where the arrow lands. Imagine the feelings of the youngest son when he discovers a large frog holding his arrow in her mouth. He marries the frog, only to discover that each night she changes into a beautiful princess. But will he ever have a flesh-and-blood human wife to call his own?? Virginia Lee's haunting, other-worldly illustrations transform Antonia Barber's elegant retelling of a Russian folk tale into an enchanting fairytale classic.
36 pages, Hardcover
First published May 28, 2008
35 people want to read
About the author
Antonia Barber
46 books25 followersAntonia Barber really knows about ballet - her daughter studied ballet from the age of three and attended the Royal Ballet School junior associate classes at Sadler's Wells. Antonia is well-known for such best-selling picture books as The Mousehole Cat (with Nicola Bailey) and Catkin (with J P Lynch). Her novel, The Amazing Mr Blunden, was runner-up for the Carnegie Medal. Antonia lived in Kent.
FAVOURITE BOOK:
Middlemarch by George Eliot
FAVOURITE SONG:
'Every Time You Say Goodbye' by Ella Fitzgerald
MOST TREASURED POSSESSION:
Family Photographs
FAVOURITE FILM:
The African Queen with Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart
--------------------------------------------------------
When did you start writing?
I wrote my first children's novel in 1966. My second, The Ghosts, written two years later, was a best-seller and was filmed as The Amazing Mr Blunden in 1972. Now a new film version is planned, as well as a stage musical version. My picture books for younger children include The Mousehole Cat about a fisherman and a cat who live in my Cornish cottage (see Favourite Place). Most recently I wrote Tales from the Ballet and then, for Puffin, the Dancing Shoes series about Lucy Lambert who wants to be a ballerina.
Where do you get your ideas?
Often from my own life or other peoples'. The Ghosts was inspired by a visit to an old house; The Ring in the Rough Stuff by going sailing with friends on an old Thames Barge; and The Mousehole Cat by a song I found in Cornwall. For the Dancing Shoes series I had help from my daughter Gemma, who did ballet lessons from the age of three until she was fifteen.
Can you give your top three tips to becoming a successful author?
1. You must be interested in people and all ages. To create good characters, you have to be able to imagine yourself in someone else's shoes and know how they would feel.
2. Read lots of books by good writers and try to see what it is that makes you enjoy them.
3. Write your story, then put it aside and do something different. Then go back to your story and try to read it as if someone else had written it. This makes it easier to see mistakes and to put them right.
Favourite memory?
A sailing holiday in the Greek Islands with my children and my husband, the summer before he was killed in a road accident.
Favourite place in the world and why?
My cottage in the little Cornish fishing village of Mousehole. We don't know how old it is, but it had to have a new roof after some marauding Spaniards set fire to it in 1590. It is small and snug and I can watch the blue-green sea and the little harbour from my window. I go there to rest and unwind and sometimes to work in peace because there is no telephone. It is full of happy memories of holidays with my children.
What are your hobbies?
Walking, especially along the cliffs in Cornwall. Gardening in my poison-free, wild-life garden in Kent. Going to the theatre, ballet, opera and cinema. Watching television, especially BBC classic serials. Best of all, reading books.
If you hadn't been a writer, what do you think you would have been?
I like the idea of myself as an actor or dancer... a painter would have been good too. Unfortunately I don't think I would have had enough talent for any of these. But really I love books, so if I couldn't write them, I think I would have a little bookshop in a small country town.
(courtesy Penguin website)
FAVOURITE BOOK:
Middlemarch by George Eliot
FAVOURITE SONG:
'Every Time You Say Goodbye' by Ella Fitzgerald
MOST TREASURED POSSESSION:
Family Photographs
FAVOURITE FILM:
The African Queen with Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart
--------------------------------------------------------
When did you start writing?
I wrote my first children's novel in 1966. My second, The Ghosts, written two years later, was a best-seller and was filmed as The Amazing Mr Blunden in 1972. Now a new film version is planned, as well as a stage musical version. My picture books for younger children include The Mousehole Cat about a fisherman and a cat who live in my Cornish cottage (see Favourite Place). Most recently I wrote Tales from the Ballet and then, for Puffin, the Dancing Shoes series about Lucy Lambert who wants to be a ballerina.
Where do you get your ideas?
Often from my own life or other peoples'. The Ghosts was inspired by a visit to an old house; The Ring in the Rough Stuff by going sailing with friends on an old Thames Barge; and The Mousehole Cat by a song I found in Cornwall. For the Dancing Shoes series I had help from my daughter Gemma, who did ballet lessons from the age of three until she was fifteen.
Can you give your top three tips to becoming a successful author?
1. You must be interested in people and all ages. To create good characters, you have to be able to imagine yourself in someone else's shoes and know how they would feel.
2. Read lots of books by good writers and try to see what it is that makes you enjoy them.
3. Write your story, then put it aside and do something different. Then go back to your story and try to read it as if someone else had written it. This makes it easier to see mistakes and to put them right.
Favourite memory?
A sailing holiday in the Greek Islands with my children and my husband, the summer before he was killed in a road accident.
Favourite place in the world and why?
My cottage in the little Cornish fishing village of Mousehole. We don't know how old it is, but it had to have a new roof after some marauding Spaniards set fire to it in 1590. It is small and snug and I can watch the blue-green sea and the little harbour from my window. I go there to rest and unwind and sometimes to work in peace because there is no telephone. It is full of happy memories of holidays with my children.
What are your hobbies?
Walking, especially along the cliffs in Cornwall. Gardening in my poison-free, wild-life garden in Kent. Going to the theatre, ballet, opera and cinema. Watching television, especially BBC classic serials. Best of all, reading books.
If you hadn't been a writer, what do you think you would have been?
I like the idea of myself as an actor or dancer... a painter would have been good too. Unfortunately I don't think I would have had enough talent for any of these. But really I love books, so if I couldn't write them, I think I would have a little bookshop in a small country town.
(courtesy Penguin website)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 10, 2025
4 stars
Nice children’s book—probably best suited for 3-year-olds.
Nice children’s book—probably best suited for 3-year-olds.
July 19, 2010
Loved this beautifully illustrated Russian folktale! The youngest of three princes determines to marry a frog, but doesn't listen to her when she asks him to trust her, thereby almost losing her. Moral of the story: marry for love, even if your love is an ugly frog. Moral of the story: true beauty isn't necessarily physical. Moral of the story: listen to the frog! I especially liked the illustration on the last page, where the frog skin is hanging on a little hanger in the closet along with the other clothes. So cute! Recommended!!
December 6, 2021
This rendition of the tale has lovely Russian-flavoured illustrations by Virginia Lee.
May 5, 2022
I loved this folktale! Especially how beautifully illustrated it is when it comes the moment where the bride changes her frog clothes! ❤️
I would try reading it to my older students who sometimes are a bit challenging when reading something out loud.
I would try reading it to my older students who sometimes are a bit challenging when reading something out loud.
December 2, 2022
A cute fairy tale with beautiful illustrations!
September 10, 2008
I am not crazy about the art--all the faces have the same slight sharp, slight stylized look, but the colors and the details are beautiful. Excellent text, though-- a very nice retelling of a classic Russian fairy tale
December 12, 2011
I really loved this book because it was a fairy tale. It would be a good book to discuss love and how people should not judged for who they are on the outside. The illustrations are beautiful and realistic.
January 11, 2015
A young Russian prince learns to accept the furry otherkin that his father insists he marry,
October 9, 2008
sort of like shrek, except inverted. and prettier
May 27, 2009
Mackenzie & I read this book today & it was a really cute fairy tale. One I had never heard of before.
May 31, 2010
I liked this, but it wasn't what I neeeded!
April 9, 2015
I am looking forward to using this in my fairy tale unit next year. It's fun and slightly surprising. At the least, it is a new story to me. I think the kids will enjoy it, too.
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July 27, 2012awesome story
October 4, 2012
Well done.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews