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Monday the Bullfrog
Monday, a bullfrog with a big appetite, eats a different delicacy each day, ending with a sweet surprise on Saturday. Lift-the-flaps invite preschoolers to guess at the day's menu while practising colours and days of the week.
20 pages, Board Book
First published January 1, 2006
17 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Van Fleet
38 books46 followersMatthew Van Fleet's innovative books have been introducing children to basic concepts for over twenty years. His unique formats invite toddlers to touch, press, pull, lift and even sniff as they explore colors, shapes, numbers, letters, opposites and more. His books include the #1 New York Times bestsellers TAILS and DOG as well as the New York Times bestsellers CAT, ALPHABET, and HEADS.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 29, 2023
This frog is terrifying and threatening. It wanted to eat me
February 21, 2017
Title Monday the Bullfrog
Author: Matthew Van Fleet Monday
Illustrator: Skip Skwarek
Genre: Toy
Theme(s): Days of the week, Colors, Animals, Insects
Opening line/sentence: “Monday the bullfrog is always hungry.”
Brief Book Summary:
This book is in the form of a plush frog that is also a puppet. It is a about what the frog eats each day of the week, and each thing that the frog eats is of a certain color and attributed with a plush appendage. The last thing that he eats is you, the reader, as you see yourself in a mirror.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Karen Leggett (Children's Literature)
This book-puppet-toy is in the tradition of nursery rhymes with a thread of unpleasantness or even violence. It is indeed true that bullfrogs will eat anything that fits into their mouth, and plush, colorful Monday the Bullfrog has a big appetite. Each day of the week, whatever Monday eats is written on his heavy board tongue and crafted out of puffy fabric--butterfly, mouse, crab, caterpillar, firefly, and fish. On Saturday he wanted something sweet, so Monday ate YOU and his tongue turns into a mirror. The design of the book is clever and could lead to fun, silly interactions between reader and small child. However, naming the bullfrog Monday in a book featuring the days of the week is confusing, and it is disconcerting to have all the various insects and animals smiling gleefully as they are being eaten. 2006, Simon & Schuster, $16.95. Ages 1 to 2.
(PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster $16.95., PUBLISHED: 2006)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Sharon Schulz-Elsing/2006 for curled up with a good kid's book
There's nothing not to love about Matthew Van Fleet's Monday the Bullfrog, a concept book on colors and the days of the week (and, incidentally, a frog's diet) that hides a scream of laughter and surprise on the last page. A bright, sturdy hand puppet and board book in one, Monday the Bullfrog fits both parents and kids. Monday the Bullfrog is always hungry, and as the week progresses his voracious appetite leads him to some unexpected meals - including a mouse and a crab, along with more pedestrian insect fare. A bit of each tasty creature protrudes from Monday's gaping maw; children who have ever witnessed a real live frog eating a dragonfly will recognize the look. Some of the jutting tails and wings invite tactile exploration, crinkling and crunching when handled. Just when it seems that the big-eyed bullfrog could not possibly fit in another morsel at week's end, his most surprising entree is exposed by a shiny mirror - you! - in a reveal just begging for a big munching tickle from the ravenous amphibian. Monday's goofy eyes-wide-open gaze tempers the cutesy illustrations that define some of Van Fleet's other work (Tails and Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings, for example), taking this offering to a higher level. Parents will enjoy playing with Monday the Bullfrog (almost) as much as the youngest book and animal lovers.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviewers note that this book teaches children about the days of the week, colors, and what frogs eat (with the exception of you). I agree with the first review that it is confusing that the frog’s name is Monday. The first reviewer states how it’s disturbing that the animals and insects are smiling after being eaten, while the second review does not mention this.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The silly and enthusiastic expressions on the characters lighten up the fact that the frog has eaten them. This book has been intentionally been designed for very young readers due to it playful nature. The plot consists of the frog’s daily diet and cravings, eventually leading up to its desire to “eat” the reader. Moreover, the mirror at the end is an excellent touch to the text because the reader is actually seeing themself in the frog’s mouth.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
A consideration for my classroom would be to have my students put on a puppet show reenacting the story with the use of this frog and other various props and puppets. Another consideration is to be like the frog and eat something different each day. Through this, I can promote healthy eating. For example, Monday I can have the students eat apples, Tuesday, I can bring the students celery, and so on.
Author: Matthew Van Fleet Monday
Illustrator: Skip Skwarek
Genre: Toy
Theme(s): Days of the week, Colors, Animals, Insects
Opening line/sentence: “Monday the bullfrog is always hungry.”
Brief Book Summary:
This book is in the form of a plush frog that is also a puppet. It is a about what the frog eats each day of the week, and each thing that the frog eats is of a certain color and attributed with a plush appendage. The last thing that he eats is you, the reader, as you see yourself in a mirror.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Karen Leggett (Children's Literature)
This book-puppet-toy is in the tradition of nursery rhymes with a thread of unpleasantness or even violence. It is indeed true that bullfrogs will eat anything that fits into their mouth, and plush, colorful Monday the Bullfrog has a big appetite. Each day of the week, whatever Monday eats is written on his heavy board tongue and crafted out of puffy fabric--butterfly, mouse, crab, caterpillar, firefly, and fish. On Saturday he wanted something sweet, so Monday ate YOU and his tongue turns into a mirror. The design of the book is clever and could lead to fun, silly interactions between reader and small child. However, naming the bullfrog Monday in a book featuring the days of the week is confusing, and it is disconcerting to have all the various insects and animals smiling gleefully as they are being eaten. 2006, Simon & Schuster, $16.95. Ages 1 to 2.
(PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster $16.95., PUBLISHED: 2006)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Sharon Schulz-Elsing/2006 for curled up with a good kid's book
There's nothing not to love about Matthew Van Fleet's Monday the Bullfrog, a concept book on colors and the days of the week (and, incidentally, a frog's diet) that hides a scream of laughter and surprise on the last page. A bright, sturdy hand puppet and board book in one, Monday the Bullfrog fits both parents and kids. Monday the Bullfrog is always hungry, and as the week progresses his voracious appetite leads him to some unexpected meals - including a mouse and a crab, along with more pedestrian insect fare. A bit of each tasty creature protrudes from Monday's gaping maw; children who have ever witnessed a real live frog eating a dragonfly will recognize the look. Some of the jutting tails and wings invite tactile exploration, crinkling and crunching when handled. Just when it seems that the big-eyed bullfrog could not possibly fit in another morsel at week's end, his most surprising entree is exposed by a shiny mirror - you! - in a reveal just begging for a big munching tickle from the ravenous amphibian. Monday's goofy eyes-wide-open gaze tempers the cutesy illustrations that define some of Van Fleet's other work (Tails and Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings, for example), taking this offering to a higher level. Parents will enjoy playing with Monday the Bullfrog (almost) as much as the youngest book and animal lovers.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviewers note that this book teaches children about the days of the week, colors, and what frogs eat (with the exception of you). I agree with the first review that it is confusing that the frog’s name is Monday. The first reviewer states how it’s disturbing that the animals and insects are smiling after being eaten, while the second review does not mention this.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The silly and enthusiastic expressions on the characters lighten up the fact that the frog has eaten them. This book has been intentionally been designed for very young readers due to it playful nature. The plot consists of the frog’s daily diet and cravings, eventually leading up to its desire to “eat” the reader. Moreover, the mirror at the end is an excellent touch to the text because the reader is actually seeing themself in the frog’s mouth.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
A consideration for my classroom would be to have my students put on a puppet show reenacting the story with the use of this frog and other various props and puppets. Another consideration is to be like the frog and eat something different each day. Through this, I can promote healthy eating. For example, Monday I can have the students eat apples, Tuesday, I can bring the students celery, and so on.
September 27, 2017
Children adore this puppet book!
Read
March 17, 2021I know it's supposed to be cute, but the end of this book bothers me. ^_^;; But the kiddo cracks a smile when I make this thing "croak" so points for engaging...
October 5, 2015
A book about a frog for early readers. Great book to teach basic shapes and animal science.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews