A Spoonful of Frogs

by Casey Lyall, Vera Brosgol (Illustrator)

Frogs are the most important ingredient in a witch's favorite treat--but they are also the hardest to get into the cauldron! From acclaimed author Casey Lyall and Caldecott Honor artist Vera Brosgol, A Spoonful of Frogs is a humorous and wholly original picture book--and a winning recipe for readers who loved Dragons Love Tacos and Room on the Broom.

A witch's favorite treat is frog soup. Luckily, it's healthy and easy to make. To give it that extra kick and a pop of color, the key ingredient is a spoonful of frogs. But how do you keep the frogs on the spoon? They hop, they leap, they hide . . . and they escape. What is a poor witch to do?

Casey Lyall is a master of comedic timing with her deceptively simple and energetic text, and Caldecott Honor winnerVera Brosgol's vibrant, hilarious illustrations make the witch--and the frogs!--practically leap off the page. The solution to the witch's dilemma will surprise and delight young readers and their parents alike.

Teeming with laugher and hijinks, A Spoonful of Frogs is pure fun from beginning to end. A must-have for young readers, parents, witches, frog-lovers, and aspiring chefs.

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Humor, Childrens, Witches, Storytime, Fantasy

40 pages, Hardcover

First published July 19, 2022

About the author

Casey Lyall lives in Southwestern Ontario where she also works at her local library. When she’s not writing, Casey loves to bake, doodle, and learn extremely groan-worthy jokes to tell her friends.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witch with a cooking show is preparing her favorite frog soup. All the other ingredients are mixed and ready, so it's time to add the key one. Just put the frog on the spoon and . . .

Oops!

Oops!

Oops!

Laugh out loud funny. The terrific art really sells the mounting chaos and frustration.

[Lindsay Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars
This adorable picture book is currently sitting high atop my favorite picture books shelf!

A Spoonful of Frogs is a hilarious tale of a witch teaching viewers how to make her favorite treat, Frog Soup. While she adds the basic ingredients of carrots, salt, and plenty of garlic, her last ingredient isn't going down without a fight.

With bright, vivid, beautiful artwork, readers will giggle and smile at the witches woes. I particularly enjoyed the illustrations of the witches face as she continues to get more and more frustrated before finally snapping. We have all been the kind of mad where you feel like you are loosing your mind only to say SCREW IT.

Bonus: you can play a fun spot the difference between the first and second to last page at the end :)

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most hilarious picturebook I've read in a really long time, and I laughed so much as I read it! I wish it had been out when my kids were younger - as it is, I really recommend it to parents of young kids, because it's the kind of book I genuinely wouldn't have minded reading over and over (AND OVER) again - it's just so clever and so funny!

[Union County Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you have a budding chef at your house? A kiddo that likes to watch all the cooking shows? This book is a humorous look at a TV show whose hostess is a witch. She is cooking her favorite treat, Frog Soup. There is one small problem though . . . can you guess what it might be? That's right! The main ingredient has a mind of its own. Check out this book for a cute ending that will surely make you smile.

- Reviewed by Sherri F.

[Abby Johnson]

Cute book that could be used for Halloween, but does not mention Halloween. This would be a cute addition to a spooky storytime or a cooking storytime.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious. Fun read-aloud for fans of cooking shows. If Julia Child was a witch and one of her ingredients was out of control.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gets five stars just for the sheer fun of it. I was grinning so much as I read it. It's so funny and cute and the pacing is excellent. The illustrations are so expressive and really make the book. The ending is a delight and should satisfy all the animal lovers out there. (Sensitive young animal lovers might like to know in advance that while the frogs are in peril being chased by the witch, who wants to add them to her soup, they actually escape and she ends up befriending them rather than eating them.)

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful illustrations, a simple but laugh-out-loud plotline, and a gentle message that nobody wants to be eaten and we can use kinder alternatives to achieve the same effect in our recipes--even if we happen to be a witch with a cooking show! And I absolutely loved the final page!

A round of applause and happy "ribbits" for A SPOONFUL OF FROGS!

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I like this book because she tries to eat frogs.

[Kelly Bellware · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Loved it!

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This witch chef has all of the supplies she needs. The ingredients for a tasty pot of Frog Soup are clearly described with expressive full color art created digitally. Reminiscent of a 1950's cooking show in presentation, this red nosed witch carefully places each ingredient into the simmering pot until she gets to the last one, FROGS! Spotting the frogs camouflaged in each picture making their escapes, proves so infurating, expressed by the witches' bulging eyes, yet a pure delight to a young audience. Her compromise is so clever! A joyful, beautifully illustrated tale to read aloud!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witchy host is filming an episode of how to make frog soup. She demonstrates all of the ingredients, but when it comes time to catch the frogs to put them in....well....you'll just have to read and see.
This is a fun and comedic book that takes a VERY different turn than what anyone expects. The cartoon like illustrations of Vera Brosgol lightly mock cooking show hosts and provides a fun storyline.
A great read-alike for Stone Soup or great for a Halloween-themed storytime or classroom project;
*Spoiler, but not: The book does actually make something, but is it frog soup?

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so silly and funny. A witch making a cooking show is trying to make soup. All she needs is for the frogs—er, I mean, ingredients to cooperate and she can finish the recipe! I think this would be super fun to read with older kids, like a class visit maybe even up to third grade. Kids love watching adults struggle, and this is a super funny version of that age-old goof.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARCQuest: Book 3

A super funny read with wonderful illustrations. I will definitely be adding this to my picture book collection when it releases.

Also where can I catch the rest of our witchy host’s cooking show?? (That’s code for: WE NEED A SEQUEL!)

[Margo Tanenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very humorous non-scary book perfect for Halloween for ages 4-8. Funny for adults as well as the witch is taping what appears to be a cooking show or video of her making frog stew. But the frogs are not cooperative! Love the artwork too which has a retro feel to it.

[Candice M (tinylibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute!!!

[Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be an adorable book to read when Halloween comes around. Perfect for a storytime if you don’t mind doing voices!

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the host of Bewitching Kitchen attempts to prepare frog soup during a live broadcast, all goes well until it's time to add the main ingredient.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! What a fun story, with illustrations that bring out and enhance the humor of the silly situations.

[Villain E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vera Brosgol and frogs. I was already smiling when I opened the book.

A witch is demonstrating a recipe of frog soup for a cooking show. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the frogs have other ideas.

[Sarah BT · Rating 5 out of 5]

How had this one slipped by me? It’s so hilarious and adorable and would be a fun read aloud. I loved it!

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this silly story with fantastic illustrations and a heartwarming twist ending. It's nice to see a witch book with a non-uglified witch.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading this for a storytime at my library and no one can stop me.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would be a fun read aloud to a group of kids. A repetitive phrase and cute illustrations.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witch is doing a cooking show segment for Frog Stew and runs into some hilarious problems with the main ingredient! This genuinely had me laughing out loud.

[Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious and delightful.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witch has her own cooking television program and is attempting to teach the audience a recipe, but the frogs prove difficult to add 🤣. I found this funnier as an adult than I probably would have as a child.

[Chelse · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is expressive and colorful. I always love Vera Brosgol’s ability to elicit humor through her art.

But I was not a fan of Casey Lyall’s story. The witch is squarely positioned as the villain, without any explicit empathy for why the frogs shouldn’t be eaten.

[Maris Mckinstry · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 4 year olds new favorite picture book, the illustrations and the story is so cute.

[Talia Messina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is hilarious! A witch tries to follow a simple recipe, but can’t get the frogs on the spoon. The crazier the scenes become, the faster I flipped the pages. The artwork is so funny that I wasn’t bothered that the same text is repeated over and over. Read for a good laugh.