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Nature Storybooks
Growing Frogs
When a mother brings her daughter to a pond to collect some frog spawn, the little girl isn't sure what to expect. Day after day she checks on the jellylike bubbles until they turn into tadpoles, which sprout stumps that turn into legs with webby feet. The engaging narrative and colorful illustrations accurately evoke each stage of a frog's growth--in a story that will inspire children to experience firsthand the wonders of the natural world.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2000
5 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Vivian French
591 books142 followersVivian June Isoult French MBE was born in 1945 and educated at Exeter University.
Vivian French was best known in school for being extremely skinny and for talking a lot. At school she developed an attachment to words and later became an actor, then a storyteller, and finally a writer of children's books. She is the author of more than two hundred books. Ms. French lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has four grown daughters.
Vivian French was best known in school for being extremely skinny and for talking a lot. At school she developed an attachment to words and later became an actor, then a storyteller, and finally a writer of children's books. She is the author of more than two hundred books. Ms. French lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has four grown daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 28, 2016
1) Book summary, in your own words (3 pts)
This story tells about a little girl whose mother strikes her curiosity about growing frogs when she read her a book about frogs growing really big. At first the little girl was not interested in growing some of their own, until she realized that even though they grow, they will never be bigger than the palm of her mother's hand. The next day she went to the pond and observed. She decided she would actually like to grow frogs of her own and her mother helped her.
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
2nd grade
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
science- learning about the life cycle of frogs
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
This book might help students understand the concept of how the frogs grow and the different stages.
5) Small group use (literaturecircles) (1 pt)
none
6) Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
Read aloud and a class experiment- our class can better understand the life cycle of a frog if we grow our own too!
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
none
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available (1 pt)
none
This story tells about a little girl whose mother strikes her curiosity about growing frogs when she read her a book about frogs growing really big. At first the little girl was not interested in growing some of their own, until she realized that even though they grow, they will never be bigger than the palm of her mother's hand. The next day she went to the pond and observed. She decided she would actually like to grow frogs of her own and her mother helped her.
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
2nd grade
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
science- learning about the life cycle of frogs
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
This book might help students understand the concept of how the frogs grow and the different stages.
5) Small group use (literaturecircles) (1 pt)
none
6) Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
Read aloud and a class experiment- our class can better understand the life cycle of a frog if we grow our own too!
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
none
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available (1 pt)
none
December 16, 2009
1st-3rd grade
This is not your traditional non-fiction book. This is a great way to get children interested in the process of how frogs go from eggs to frogs. The process was set up into a story form of a family trying to help grow frogs. The index in the back helps show what pages each step is on so that a student can easily skip to the section they chose to go. French also adds in her personal biography her experience with growing frogs to give her acrediation for writing the story. This book is inviting to children because of the the bright colors and fun fonts. The fonts ranged from bold to normal to curvy.
Science/Language Arts
The classroom as a whole can get frog eggs and raise a classroom frog as a pet.
This is not your traditional non-fiction book. This is a great way to get children interested in the process of how frogs go from eggs to frogs. The process was set up into a story form of a family trying to help grow frogs. The index in the back helps show what pages each step is on so that a student can easily skip to the section they chose to go. French also adds in her personal biography her experience with growing frogs to give her acrediation for writing the story. This book is inviting to children because of the the bright colors and fun fonts. The fonts ranged from bold to normal to curvy.
Science/Language Arts
The classroom as a whole can get frog eggs and raise a classroom frog as a pet.
April 17, 2018
I remember the fun and excitement of growing frogs in the classroom of my primary school which had its own pond so when I read this book I couldn’t help but enjoy it and can really see kids being fascinated by these creatures! ‘Growing Frogs’ is an excellent introduction into the way frogs grow from their spawn to adulthood and is beautifully illustrated. The book is shorter than an A4 piece of paper in height but wider and has lots of thick and glossy pages filled with colour.
There is a story told in this book from the point of view of the little girl who at first is a bit wary of frogs but soon grows to love them as she watches some frogspawn grow up. Although there is a fictional element to this book, it’s really a non-fiction paperback and does explain to kids all about the way that frogs grow from egg to tadpole to adult but in a fun way. At first the girl thinks that the frog spawn is disgusting, but as her mother carefully takes some to keep in a fish tank at home (along with all the necessary pond weed, stones and of course water) the girl then watches the eggs mature and eventually become very small frogs, and during this process she grows to love them. The way the growing process is explained is simple and easy to understand. Having seen this myself when I was young I can understand the girl’s interest and fascination. There are pictures and descriptions of just how the eggs, then tadpoles, look as they are growing and it makes you want to see this for yourself. One thing I really enjoy about the way the story is told though is the fact that it does also explain to kids how to be careful and respectful with frogs at all stages of their lives.
The pictures are so colourful and quite simple, they look almost like a child’s drawing but I really love the way everything looks. Something about the colourful child-like drawings makes you really interested in looking at the book. I love the way the tadpoles and frogs look too, they look cute which can help kids who might feel wary of them to feel more for these creature and not be as worried.
I like the way this book ends and the overall ‘story’ told. The book is informative but at the same time can really inspire kids to want to learn about frogs which is a good thing. Just after the main story there are added notes about caring for frogs such as telling kids not to take frog spawn from wild ponds, and to return any frogs if you did take some eggs to hatch at home. I like this as again this book is teaching children, and maybe adults too, how to be respectful and careful when handling the eggs and frogs. There is a notes to teachers and parents at the very back of the book which explains how this book can be used with kids and the book does support Key Stage 1-2 of both English and Science making this a great book for learning both at school and at home. I also love the ‘about the author/illustrator’ section at the front of the book, especially how the illustrator’s mind has been changed about frogspawn. It’s just an added extra that makes this book all the better and more appealing for me.
Having experience the excitement and wonder of growing frogs I would really recommend this book for kids. Not only for children who like animals and creatures but also to those that perhaps don’t think much of or might even be a little scared of frogs, as it might just change their minds and inspire a future naturalist.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy
There is a story told in this book from the point of view of the little girl who at first is a bit wary of frogs but soon grows to love them as she watches some frogspawn grow up. Although there is a fictional element to this book, it’s really a non-fiction paperback and does explain to kids all about the way that frogs grow from egg to tadpole to adult but in a fun way. At first the girl thinks that the frog spawn is disgusting, but as her mother carefully takes some to keep in a fish tank at home (along with all the necessary pond weed, stones and of course water) the girl then watches the eggs mature and eventually become very small frogs, and during this process she grows to love them. The way the growing process is explained is simple and easy to understand. Having seen this myself when I was young I can understand the girl’s interest and fascination. There are pictures and descriptions of just how the eggs, then tadpoles, look as they are growing and it makes you want to see this for yourself. One thing I really enjoy about the way the story is told though is the fact that it does also explain to kids how to be careful and respectful with frogs at all stages of their lives.
The pictures are so colourful and quite simple, they look almost like a child’s drawing but I really love the way everything looks. Something about the colourful child-like drawings makes you really interested in looking at the book. I love the way the tadpoles and frogs look too, they look cute which can help kids who might feel wary of them to feel more for these creature and not be as worried.
I like the way this book ends and the overall ‘story’ told. The book is informative but at the same time can really inspire kids to want to learn about frogs which is a good thing. Just after the main story there are added notes about caring for frogs such as telling kids not to take frog spawn from wild ponds, and to return any frogs if you did take some eggs to hatch at home. I like this as again this book is teaching children, and maybe adults too, how to be respectful and careful when handling the eggs and frogs. There is a notes to teachers and parents at the very back of the book which explains how this book can be used with kids and the book does support Key Stage 1-2 of both English and Science making this a great book for learning both at school and at home. I also love the ‘about the author/illustrator’ section at the front of the book, especially how the illustrator’s mind has been changed about frogspawn. It’s just an added extra that makes this book all the better and more appealing for me.
Having experience the excitement and wonder of growing frogs I would really recommend this book for kids. Not only for children who like animals and creatures but also to those that perhaps don’t think much of or might even be a little scared of frogs, as it might just change their minds and inspire a future naturalist.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy
October 1, 2018
Summary:
Growing Frogs is a story about a little girl whose mom reads a story to her about a growing frog. The next day, they went to the pond to find some frogs. The girls was grossed out by the frog spawn at the beginning, but what she found out was that it was tadpoles. She filled a bucket of tadpoles and took them home with her. They counted 27 tadpoles when they got back home. Everyday, the spawn few larger. The tadpoles didn't stay for long in their jelly substance. After a few days, the tadpoles were swimming on their own. 10 of the eggs never hatched, so they had to throw them away. After a while, the tadpoles grew into frogs. When all of the tadpoles became frogs, they girl decided to take the frogs back to the pond. The girl went back to the pond everyday and the frogs grew bigger and bigger.
Evaluation:
I really liked this book because I thought it taught a great lesson on how frogs go through their different stages, and also how little girl was able to see those stages on her own. I would definitely have this book in my classroom as it promotes science investigation, while also making it interesting and relatable.
Teaching Idea:
I think that this book would be great to read aloud to students when learning about the life cycle of a frog. I personally think it would be really cool for a class to have their own tadpole to watch grow into a frog, just like the girl in the story. There were some excerpts in the book with frog facts, and I just think that this book is a great overall frog lifecycle lesson tool to have in your classroom.
Growing Frogs is a story about a little girl whose mom reads a story to her about a growing frog. The next day, they went to the pond to find some frogs. The girls was grossed out by the frog spawn at the beginning, but what she found out was that it was tadpoles. She filled a bucket of tadpoles and took them home with her. They counted 27 tadpoles when they got back home. Everyday, the spawn few larger. The tadpoles didn't stay for long in their jelly substance. After a few days, the tadpoles were swimming on their own. 10 of the eggs never hatched, so they had to throw them away. After a while, the tadpoles grew into frogs. When all of the tadpoles became frogs, they girl decided to take the frogs back to the pond. The girl went back to the pond everyday and the frogs grew bigger and bigger.
Evaluation:
I really liked this book because I thought it taught a great lesson on how frogs go through their different stages, and also how little girl was able to see those stages on her own. I would definitely have this book in my classroom as it promotes science investigation, while also making it interesting and relatable.
Teaching Idea:
I think that this book would be great to read aloud to students when learning about the life cycle of a frog. I personally think it would be really cool for a class to have their own tadpole to watch grow into a frog, just like the girl in the story. There were some excerpts in the book with frog facts, and I just think that this book is a great overall frog lifecycle lesson tool to have in your classroom.
January 3, 2018
I think marvelling at the weird and wonderful changes a tadpole goes through to become a frog is almost an expected part of childhood - haven't we all sat and watched them swim around in varying stages of growth? This book really nicely illustrates these stages but also educates little readers about how to be safe and respectful of frogs and their frogspawn, particularly if they intend to take some to watch them grow.
The illustrations are vibrant and colourful which definitely engages small readers and the story is informative but still fun instead of seeming like a non-fiction book. One page in particularly shows each stage of the tadpoles growth which was really great.
The perfect blend of fact and fiction to encourage younger readers to love nature, but also have a little fun whilst learning about it.
ARC provided free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
The illustrations are vibrant and colourful which definitely engages small readers and the story is informative but still fun instead of seeming like a non-fiction book. One page in particularly shows each stage of the tadpoles growth which was really great.
The perfect blend of fact and fiction to encourage younger readers to love nature, but also have a little fun whilst learning about it.
ARC provided free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
October 24, 2018
A lovely story about a child and their mother growing frogs by gathering frog spawn found in their pond, transporting it into a bucket, watching them grow, and releasing them back into the pond. This story is part fiction and part factual as it gives a guide of how to look after frogs as they grow. This story also teaches children about the life cycle of frogs which would be a great resource for science and geography lessons.
March 3, 2020
A great story to teach children how frog spawn develops into tadpoles then frogs. The book has facts at the bottom of each page too so it is really informative as well as a fun story for children to enjoy. The book offers opportunities for learning about their environment and specific scientific vocabulary.
August 11, 2018
A mother and child watch as tadpoles develop and grow into frogs — they scoop frog spawn from the pond and take it home to a big fish tank.
November 4, 2018
My 6 year old daughter, who is really into frogs, loved this book.
March 31, 2020
Interesting to read.
July 18, 2020
One summer a little girl went with her mother to collect some frog spawn from a nearby pond. She was excited to be able to see tadpoles grow and then change into frogs. Included in this book is information briefly explaining the process. Great illustrations.
May 18, 2020
Fantastic story with lots of facts about frogs.
July 10, 2021
First one girl's mum told a story about a frog that drank and drank and drank and grew bigger and bigger and bigger and then her mum asked if she wanted to grow some frogs. Then the girl said no, I do not want frogs jumping around and drinking and drinking and drinking and growing bigger and bigger and bigger. Then the girl's mum said they won't grow very big. Then the girl said ok then we'll grow some. Then next day they went to the pond to take the frog eggs. Then when the girl saw the frog eggs she said yuck! Then her mother told that's the frogs eggs then her mum put some pond water in a bucket and some rocks and put it in the fish tank. The next day the jelly of the eggs grew bigger. And the next day the dots grew bigger, the next day some of the eggs had hatched into tadpoles. Then the next day more and more tadpoles hatched from the eggs. Then their gills disappeared and they breathed the air, that's why the girl's mum put rocks, so the frogs can climb and breathe air. Then the girl's mum said it's time to put the frogs back. The next day it was raining so much, then the mum shouted and called the girl, and when the girl went outside there were 100s and 100s of baby frogs jumping around.
I don't want to grow any frog eggs, YUCK! I don't like frogs because they're very sticky and because they're always in our kitchen and bathrooms!
I was so surprised their gills disappeared, I didn't even know frogs have gills! I thought only sharks and fishes have gills.
I don't want to grow any frog eggs, YUCK! I don't like frogs because they're very sticky and because they're always in our kitchen and bathrooms!
I was so surprised their gills disappeared, I didn't even know frogs have gills! I thought only sharks and fishes have gills.
May 1, 2012
‘Growing Frogs’ by Vivian French is a ‘Nature Storybook’. It tells the story of a little girl whose mum tells her a story about a frog and then shows her frogspawn and helps her collect it to watch it grow. The story is told from the girls point of view and there are also instructions on each page offering guidance on how to collect and care for frogspawn, tadpoles, ‘not-quite-frogs’, baby frogs and eventually frogs that have to go back to the pond so that they can then find their own way out into the world. The book is clear in the responsibility involved and counsels the reader ‘Frogs are in danger – please help!’ and offers rules for frog lovers.
This is a great book for teaching about this life cycle and could be used to show the reproduction and growth of living things. The book offers support to children and adults alike if they wanted to chart the journey of the eggs to frogs in the classroom; reading it gave me the confidence to feel that I could safety attempt it.
This would be a great introduction to the properties of living things in year 2 but could also be used to discuss elements of reproduction in animals and serves as a ready comparison to how things happen with mammals, birds and fish.
This is a great book for teaching about this life cycle and could be used to show the reproduction and growth of living things. The book offers support to children and adults alike if they wanted to chart the journey of the eggs to frogs in the classroom; reading it gave me the confidence to feel that I could safety attempt it.
This would be a great introduction to the properties of living things in year 2 but could also be used to discuss elements of reproduction in animals and serves as a ready comparison to how things happen with mammals, birds and fish.
October 2, 2015
This engaging and growing process of growing frogs is demonstrated through uncovering definitions, determining stages, and discovering frogs in a whole new way. This would be a great tool in the subject of science by providing a visual representation to go along with the curriculum of animals in regard to water. The genre would be a 4-8 nonfiction book due to the amount of definitions and content expressed, including a storyline imbedded within as well. The target range, in my opinion, would be 4th-5th grade. This book could even be used as a reference for a project to look back through and find key ideas to touch on. I rated this book 5 stars because I felt the pictures were interesting as well as the coloring. The journey of a frog is also portrayed nicely, which includes a excellent source of recognizing the different stages. The dominant themes would be information based with a approachable element.
October 19, 2013
Title: Growing Frogs
Summary: In this fictional tale, a mother helps her daughter discover how frogs are born and how they grow.
Focus: How to Use This Text to Teach a Mini Lesson in Writing
Sequence: The text shows how the girl gathers the spawn, raises the frogs and then releases them back to the pond. In between, it shows all the sequencing of the growing of the frog from a tadpole.
Author's Choose: The text is a fictional piece with accurate information. It's good for young writers to know that they have a choice in how to present their information.
Text Features: The book has 'All About' Features like an index, captions and graphics.
CCSS W.2.2
Summary: In this fictional tale, a mother helps her daughter discover how frogs are born and how they grow.
Focus: How to Use This Text to Teach a Mini Lesson in Writing
Sequence: The text shows how the girl gathers the spawn, raises the frogs and then releases them back to the pond. In between, it shows all the sequencing of the growing of the frog from a tadpole.
Author's Choose: The text is a fictional piece with accurate information. It's good for young writers to know that they have a choice in how to present their information.
Text Features: The book has 'All About' Features like an index, captions and graphics.
CCSS W.2.2
December 30, 2014
Follow the journey from tadpole to frog as a young girl and her mother raise tadpoles in a tank prior to releasing them back to the pond from which the eggs were taken. This simple story chock full of factual information about the life cycle of a frog, a few environmental warning and care taking tips and large easy to follow illustrations make this book ideal for younger readers and read alouds to younger grades.
April 29, 2024
This book explains how slimey frogspawn turns into tadpoles which, quite surprisingly, grow legs and eventually turn into frogs. The facts are brought over by a story of a girl who collects frogspawn and watches with excitement as they change. The book is entertaining, factually educational, and awakes an interest in nature ... and teaches us that frogs are fascinating.
Great to read aloud with lovely lively pictures
For children aged 4 and above
Great to read aloud with lovely lively pictures
For children aged 4 and above
April 10, 2016
Entertaining book about the life cycle of frogs, as well as an informative guide to 'growing frogs' from collecting fertilized eggs and watching them grow and change.
I am not a big fan of the illustrations, but they are colorful and really help to depict the frogs' changes as they grow. We enjoyed reading this book together.
I am not a big fan of the illustrations, but they are colorful and really help to depict the frogs' changes as they grow. We enjoyed reading this book together.
June 18, 2014
A girl observes eggs growing into frogs before releasing them back into the pawn where they were originally fertilized. Just the right balance of wonder and information for primary students studying the life cycle of a frog, complimented by bright, cheerful illustrations.
April 11, 2012
This is a great story to get kids hopping about science. This is a very realistic story about how students can grow frogs. I think this would be great to read during a lesson and to grow your own frogs in the classroom. I loved the book and would suggest to any teacher.
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July 2, 2012"Growing Frogs" teaches students about the life cycle of a frog(fertilization, eggs, hatching, tadpoles, etc). Teachers can read this book during a thematic unit on amphibians and their habitats. It really provides great detail about frogs.
May 3, 2016
This book is meant for preschoolers and the illustrations are simple. It tells the story of a girl who collects frog spawn and watches the eggs hatch into tadpoles and grow. Introduces new vocabulary, keeps youngsters attention and teaches the steps from tadpole to frog.
January 8, 2010
This is areally nice book with beautiful illustrations. It tells the story of a girl finding frog spawn with her mother, taking it home and watching the lifecycle of a frog.
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March 14, 2012Could be used as a lesson on amphibians specifically frogs (5th grade).
April 17, 2012
This book is ideal for grades 1st-3 grade. It is used to teach the life cycle of a frog. It can be used to teach students about amphibians.
April 22, 2012
This book could be used with 1st-3rd graders to teach more about how all animals go through phases. They have a life cycle they go through.
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June 18, 2013This is a newer nonfiction science title that introduces kids to the frogs they all love. Available as a kit--book with an audio CD.
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December 31, 2013AR Quiz No. 43611 EN Nonfiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 3.5 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 3.5 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP
February 23, 2014
a great way to learn about the life cycle of a frog, from spawn to adult.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews