Frog Boots

by Jill Esbaum, Joshua Heinsz (Illustrator)

There’s only one thing Dylan wants: frog boots! But what happens when this little boy discovers they’re meant for . . . girls?
 
School shopping is no fun for Dylan—until he spots a pair of boots decorated with poison-dart frogs. They’re so cool that he even wears them to bed, where he discovers they glow in the dark! He can’t wait to wear them to class. But before he can show them off in circle time, a kid exclaims: “Ms. Kory, that boy’s wearing girl boots.” And, suddenly, when everyone’s laughing at him, the boots don’t seem so wonderful anymore. Will he ever want to wear them again? A timely story about embracing what you love, staying true to yourself, and defying stereotypes.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 31, 2020

About the author

Jill Esbaum is a full-time writer and author of I am Cow, Hear Me Moo!, I Hatched!, Stanza, and Tom’s Tweet, among many others. She lives on a farm with her husband and children in Dixon, IA.

Reviews

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book with an important message about being true to yourself.

This little boy, Dylan, loves poison dart frogs and loves his poison dart frog boots. But these boots also happen to be purple, and some kids think purple is only for girls. Dylan identifies as a boy and he loves the boots for their poison dart frogs. While he struggles with this question, he ends up realizing it’s best to be true to himself.

[Abby Johnson]

A serviceable choice for folks looking for books that address the idea that colors or certain styles of clothing are "girl clothes" or "boy clothes". Although Dylan follows his heart and accepts his cool boots at the end, it just falls a little flat.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dylan is very excited about his new poison dart frog boots. He cannot wait to wear them to school to show them off. Unfortunately when showing off his new boots the other students laugh at him and tell him that his boots are actually for girls. Dylan is embarrassed and vows to never wear the boots again. However while reading his favorite book about poison dart frogs he begins to think about his boots. He digs them out of the closet and notices that the glow is gone from them. He sets them in the sun to build up the glow and decides he likes them too much to let other kids decide he can't wear them.

First off, the illustrations for this book are awful. They look like an 8-year-old did them. Second, parts of this book don't even make sense. For example, in wondering how long the frogs displayed on his boots are: "One inch. But something was different. Whoa. No glow! Dylan tried to forget about the greenies." That's all in one paragraph and makes no sense!

Overall this book left much to be desired. Looks and reads like it was written by a child and self-published.

[Ellee Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copyright date: 2019
Star rating: 4
Award: N/A
Genre: childrens lit
Summary w/ themes: this book is about a boy who gets rain boots that end up being "for girls", he hides them in his closet until he is ready to wear them again. This time he walks with confidence and remembers he got them for himself because he liked them.
Use for future classroom: this would be a good book to read to defy gender norms and to show that you can wear whatever you want, as long as it makes you feel good.
Thoughts of book: I liked this book because it tells us that you can wear whatever you want, even if it isn't for your assigned gender. I also like that the boy is really into frogs because I like frogs too.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book reminding kids that "girl" stuff and "boy" stuff is all the same really, and if you wear "girl" boots they are "boy" boots on you if you are a boy. An excellent addition for kids who are not necessarily "gender creative," but who feel fine about their gender and want to enjoy something their peers think is for a different gender. A bit long so I wouldn't read it at a library storytime, but it could be a good one for a classroom (not singling any student out, obviously) or at home to prompt a conversation about what "other" gender items each kid thinks is cool.

[Ersa Sol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm bringing this one home for my sons! They love to put on mine, or my husband's, t-shirts and pretend they are wearing a dress while twirling around and I have never told them "dresses are for girls" and this book has very much the same message! It would be wonderful for them to know they are not chained by old social norms. Also, FROGS! I love frogs and absolutely loved that the boots had some frogs that could glow in the dark.

[Anastasia Tuckness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dylan found a pair of rain books he loves because they have poison dart frogs all over them. But--some people think they are girl boots, not boy boots because the background is purple. Will he keep wearing them?

I think this would be a great conversation starter about girl/boy things and when/whether that's a helpful distinction.

[Judy Sobanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dylan loves his new purple poison dart frog boots until...a classmate points out that they are "girl" boots. Now what's Dylan supposed to do? Jill Esbaum's fun and engaging story follows Dylan as he struggles with his desire to wear the coolest boots ever and his fear of being ridiculed. Joshua Heinsz's colorful illustrations will make you wish you had some frog boots of your own!

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

Dylan is so excited for his brand-new purple poison dart frog boots. He proudly wears them to school, and is shocked and sad when his classmates start teasing him--those boots are for girls! Dylan hides his boots away, sure he never wants to teased again, before he realizes that he loves his boots, and himself, more than he wants to "fit in."

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Protagonist has to decide that it's okay for him to like what he likes, and be less concerned about how others may perceive him because of his preferences. I also liked the glow in the dark frogs.

[Annese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Girls don't own purple" YES!!!!

[Ciara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of cute drawing! The message of this book also challenges the stereotypes that make boys wear blue and girls wear pink. Nice and simple story!

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other kids make fun of Dylan for wearing the awesome, sparkly frog boots they found while school shopping. What should Dylan do?

[Anne E]

What a great story! A child learns to be confident about what he truly enjoys, in spite of negativity from others.

[wildct2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

[Chronicler of Creepy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book about enjoying your likes in the face of criticism. Also de-gendering material objects. 🩷

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

While shopping for school, Dylan sees boots with poison frogs on them. His mom agrees to buy them and he loves them. Then, someone teases him at school about them being girl boots. The boots go in the closet and the joy disappears. He finds the courage to wear them again after remembering how much he likes them and how realistic they are. A new friends helps him regain his confidence and courage to stand up to an old stereotype that purple is a girls color.
An encouraging book to accept what people wear and are.