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An Ode to a Toad
Ode to a the full colour edition Every year, thousands of toads set out on a dangerous journey to ensure the survival of their species. Parsley the frog dreams of being a poet. She wants to join her toad friend Bufo on his adventure. This might be the perfect inspiration for an epic poem. Perhaps Parsley will finally finish her Ode to a Toad. Or maybe setting out will be the biggest mistake either of them will ever make... Based on the annual UK toad migration, this story, which includes mild peril, is suitable for readers aged 6+
58 pages, Paperback
Published February 11, 2020
About the author
Rhian Waller
11 books38 followersRhian spends a lot of her time lost (in thought, in books, in general).
She has had numerous short stories and poems published in zines.
Her first book, Eithe's Way, won the Write Factor Shortlist award and was published by the Write Factor in 2013.
Ship Rats, her first children's book and part one of the Rat Tales Trilogy, was self-published to raise funds for APOPO HeroRATs. It won the Gold Wishing Shelf award for the 5-8 age category for 2017.
Collectively, the trilogy has raised more than £1,500 for the organisation.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 2, 2021
An Ode to a Toad is based on the annual UK toad migration. Told in part-prose and part-verse, it is an engaging tale that brings alive lessons about nature in an entertaining way.
Bufo and Parsley are good friends. It doesn’t matter that Bufo is a toad and Parsley a frog. They have bonded from when they had sheltered under the same storm leaf and shared a meal of insects and worms.
The story starts with Bufo worried about a journey to Meeting-Marsh. Once a year, all the adult toads born in the marsh water returned home to find mates. Bufo wants to go too but is anxious about the long journey and his less-than-bright chances of impressing a lady-toad.
Good friend Parsley encourages him. She offers to accompany him and also arm him with a poem that will make him irresistible to whichever lady-toad he fancies.
The journey is difficult. The duo land into trouble and encounter dangers ranging from natural predators to unthinking humans. Finally, the journey is made but with unexpected results!
Migration of species and the threat to their habitat are important lessons for children so that they grow into concerned adults. Rhian Waller imparts them admirably through an adventure that young children will delight in.
Recommended.
Bufo and Parsley are good friends. It doesn’t matter that Bufo is a toad and Parsley a frog. They have bonded from when they had sheltered under the same storm leaf and shared a meal of insects and worms.
The story starts with Bufo worried about a journey to Meeting-Marsh. Once a year, all the adult toads born in the marsh water returned home to find mates. Bufo wants to go too but is anxious about the long journey and his less-than-bright chances of impressing a lady-toad.
Good friend Parsley encourages him. She offers to accompany him and also arm him with a poem that will make him irresistible to whichever lady-toad he fancies.
The journey is difficult. The duo land into trouble and encounter dangers ranging from natural predators to unthinking humans. Finally, the journey is made but with unexpected results!
Migration of species and the threat to their habitat are important lessons for children so that they grow into concerned adults. Rhian Waller imparts them admirably through an adventure that young children will delight in.
Recommended.
April 7, 2020
A Tale of the Wild Life of Amphibious Wildlife
Bufo the toad and Parsley the frog set off on a trek to reach the Meeting-Marsh so Bufo can find his true love. On the way they face danger and overcome obstacles and Parsley turns their adventures into poetry.
This is a lovely book for children with delightful illustrations that even survive the ebook conversion process. It is a warm-hearted tale about friendship, overcoming adversity and disability which also teaches a lot about frogs and toads and how we humans should treat them. There is even a factual section at the back for those who want to know more or do further research.
My only real issue with this story is that I was not sure that using the word 'love' to express the very blatant reproductive instinct and what it urged, was appropriate.
A good book for reading with children to introduce them to wider issues both human and environmental.
Bufo the toad and Parsley the frog set off on a trek to reach the Meeting-Marsh so Bufo can find his true love. On the way they face danger and overcome obstacles and Parsley turns their adventures into poetry.
This is a lovely book for children with delightful illustrations that even survive the ebook conversion process. It is a warm-hearted tale about friendship, overcoming adversity and disability which also teaches a lot about frogs and toads and how we humans should treat them. There is even a factual section at the back for those who want to know more or do further research.
My only real issue with this story is that I was not sure that using the word 'love' to express the very blatant reproductive instinct and what it urged, was appropriate.
A good book for reading with children to introduce them to wider issues both human and environmental.
March 29, 2021
An Ode to a Toad, by Rhian Waller, is a very cute story about Bufo (he’s the toad) and Parsley (she’s a frog) that set out on a journey to the Meeting-Marsh. Bufo’s goal is to find love and Parsley’s goal is to write an Ode for Bufo to help him on his quest.
Having “…spent the winter snoozing in a cosy hole in a sandy bank.” the two friends set out on their long journey. Along they way they run into all kinds of dangerous situations; birds in the air, beasties on the ground, and even an old nemesis of Bufo’s named Gimlet. Throughout their journey Parsley continues to come up with additional verses for the Ode she’s developing for Bufo to help him find his love interest. In the end, well you’ll have to read it yourself to know exactly what happens, but let's just say that Parsley has developed a really nice Ode for her best friend Bufo.
In addition to the Ode, Rhian uses other well written rhyming text throughout sections of the book. The illustrations are also very cute and well done. The only downside, which really isn’t a negative, is that at nine chapters and fifty-eight pages, I don’t see the book as a quick bedtime story for the younger side of the 6+ age range the book is listed suitable for. There’s one illustration every two to three pages, but the rest is mostly full-page text. Not always a ton of text, due to parts being written as an Ode, but more than a quick read for the younger ones.
Again, I wouldn’t say the length is a negative, just a little more reading and something to be aware of in case you were looking for a quick read before bed with your younger children. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Bufo and Parsley’s journey to the Meeting-Marsh.
Having “…spent the winter snoozing in a cosy hole in a sandy bank.” the two friends set out on their long journey. Along they way they run into all kinds of dangerous situations; birds in the air, beasties on the ground, and even an old nemesis of Bufo’s named Gimlet. Throughout their journey Parsley continues to come up with additional verses for the Ode she’s developing for Bufo to help him find his love interest. In the end, well you’ll have to read it yourself to know exactly what happens, but let's just say that Parsley has developed a really nice Ode for her best friend Bufo.
In addition to the Ode, Rhian uses other well written rhyming text throughout sections of the book. The illustrations are also very cute and well done. The only downside, which really isn’t a negative, is that at nine chapters and fifty-eight pages, I don’t see the book as a quick bedtime story for the younger side of the 6+ age range the book is listed suitable for. There’s one illustration every two to three pages, but the rest is mostly full-page text. Not always a ton of text, due to parts being written as an Ode, but more than a quick read for the younger ones.
Again, I wouldn’t say the length is a negative, just a little more reading and something to be aware of in case you were looking for a quick read before bed with your younger children. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Bufo and Parsley’s journey to the Meeting-Marsh.
March 28, 2021
I enjoyed this book so much that I read the whole book immediately. In addition to poetry and prose, it also has original coloured illustrations. It is a children's book that can also be enjoyed by adults who like stories about animals.
The two main characters are a toad (Bufo bufo) and a frog (Rana temporaria). Near the beginning of the book we learn, in a poem written by the frog, how the toad and frog first met and became friends. The story is a quest, where the toad's goal is to return to the place where he was born to look for a mate, and the frog's ambition is to document the adventure by writing an epic poem about it.
The two friends, the toad and the frog, must overcome many obstacles and dangerous situations to reach their destination. However, by sticking together and helping each other, they manage to reach their goal. The two friends switch roles in a happy, somewhat unexpected, ending.
The clear plot construction, polished writing style, and imaginative details make the book enjoyable to read. The book also has an educational aspect. Based on true-to-life situations, it aims to make readers more aware of animal life and the natural environment.
The two main characters are a toad (Bufo bufo) and a frog (Rana temporaria). Near the beginning of the book we learn, in a poem written by the frog, how the toad and frog first met and became friends. The story is a quest, where the toad's goal is to return to the place where he was born to look for a mate, and the frog's ambition is to document the adventure by writing an epic poem about it.
The two friends, the toad and the frog, must overcome many obstacles and dangerous situations to reach their destination. However, by sticking together and helping each other, they manage to reach their goal. The two friends switch roles in a happy, somewhat unexpected, ending.
The clear plot construction, polished writing style, and imaginative details make the book enjoyable to read. The book also has an educational aspect. Based on true-to-life situations, it aims to make readers more aware of animal life and the natural environment.
April 29, 2020
Ode to a Toad is a short story written for the very young reader. It follows the adventures of Bufo, a male toad, and his friend Parsley on their hazardous journey to the Mating Marsh where Bufo is desperate to find the elusive love of his life. Nothing runs smoothly, the two friends must face and conquer numerous obstacles.
The story is well-written, sprinkled with clever poems thought up by Parsley with a view to aiding Bufo secure his mate. I’m sure young readers will be captivated as they live the highs and lows of the friend's perilous journey, I know I was swept along awaiting to see if the quest was successful.
The story is well-written, sprinkled with clever poems thought up by Parsley with a view to aiding Bufo secure his mate. I’m sure young readers will be captivated as they live the highs and lows of the friend's perilous journey, I know I was swept along awaiting to see if the quest was successful.
April 3, 2020
This book was a little gem, but so is most of the books written by the author. It enlightened me on the lives of toads and frogs and the danger they face when they migrate during mating season. Written around Bufo and Parsley and the tremendous dangers they faced on their journey to the mating marsh land. I especially loved the poems and I recommend this book to children of all ages.
April 6, 2020
A fun, whimsical story for kids. Beyond just the species of the protagonists, An Ode to a Toad brings to mind Arnold Lobel's frog and toad adventures based on the writing style and interplay between the main characters. Children will enjoy following the adventure these toads embark upon while learning something about the perilous, real-life journey frogs and toads take every year to find a mate.
March 21, 2020
Lovely little book. Full of determination and friendship.
Insecurity of the toad v a happy go lucky little frog with lots of bravado and verse.
A good lesson about their environment and its conservation.
Never give up and follow your instincts.
Insecurity of the toad v a happy go lucky little frog with lots of bravado and verse.
A good lesson about their environment and its conservation.
Never give up and follow your instincts.
March 18, 2020
Charming children's story about friendship, with a strong conservation message. A nice way to introducce children to ideas of wildlife conservation, biodiversity, and habitat protection.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews