The Frog Princess: A Tlingit Legend from Alaska

by Eric A. Kimmel, Rosanne Litzinger (Illustrator)

After rejecting all of her human suitors, the daughter of the village headman finds her life's happiness among the frogs in the village lake, in this mesmerizing retelling of the Tlingit legend.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Folklore

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2006

About the author

Eric A. Kimmel is an American author of more than 150 children's books. His works include Caldecott Honor Book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman), Sydney Taylor Book Award winners The Chanukkah Guest and Gershon's Monster, and Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale.
Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York and earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Lafayette College in 1967, a master's degree from New York University, and a PhD in Education from the University of Illinois in 1973. He taught at Indiana University at South Bend, and at Portland State University, where he is Professor Emeritus of Education.
Kimmel lives with his wife, Doris, in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

You and your children will want to have a conversation about the princess's odd behavior. Though some might say she seems to be under a spell or have Stockholm syndrome, I don't think that's the case. Otherwise this wouldn't have been such a popular tale that Kimmel could have done so much careful research in order to be respectful (as his note makes clear). I, personally, think that she's an independent sort who didn't want to follow tradition.

(Remember, audiences bring their own meanings to works. I am likely projecting what I want to see; you may project something different.)

Art is not my favorite, but certainly fits. Artist also has a note explaining sources and decisions.

I will continue to work my way through Kimmel's work. Gosh he's prolific. And usually quite good.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beautiful daughter of a powerful headman refuses every offer of marriage that she receives in this retelling of a Tlingit legend from Alaska, going so far as to tell one suitor that she would sooner marry a frog from the local lake. When a frog prince comes calling, she accompanies him to his underwater home, and is happy for a time. Her grieving father however, learning of her location, threatens war against the frogs if she is not returned, and she finds herself once again amongst her human kin. Although her parents do everything they can to make her happy, she longs for her frog husband and children, and one day she disappears, along with all of the frogs in the lake...

According to the author's note, the narrative in The Frog Princess: a Tlingit Legend from Alaska is adapted from "The Girl Who Was Taken by the Frog People," found in John E. Smelcer's A Cycle of Myths: Indian Myths from Southeast Alaska . The story is fascinating, and reminds me of many such transformation tales the world over, in which a human is absorbed into an animal tribe or community of some kind. The accompanying artwork from Rosanne Litzinger, who also illustrated Koko Nishizuka's The Beckoning Cat: Based on a Japanese Folktale , has a stylized quality that is quite interesting. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, and to readers interested in the Tlingit culture and stories.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always wary when a person who doesn’t belong to a tribe retells that tribe’s legends. This one seems like the author made sure he did research, but what do I know? It is an odd little tale, kind of like a reverse Little Mermaid, with interesting art.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute storybook telling of an Indian legend from an indian tribe in Alaska. I read it standing in the gift shop of the American Indian Musuem in Washington DC, which definitely added a little something extra to the story for me. The story was neat, and the illustrations, while not stellar, were well done, and I thought fit well with the tone of the story.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these stylized illustrations.

Artist's note at back:
"I used red, a color of much significance and importance in Tlingit art, for Frog Princess's father, who is a Raven chief. But I used the sunny and atypical color yellow to distinguish his unusual daughter."

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting Tlingit legend of a young princess who is ready for marriage and with the help of her headman father, is seeking a proper husband. The princess awoke one night to a knock at her door where she meets her future husband and agrees to marry him and begin her new life with the Frog People unbeknownst to her family and was therefore feared dead. Through word of mouth, the princess' father discovers that his daughter is still alive and asks for a meeting with the Chief of the Frog People. He demands to have his daughter back with her people and threatens war until the chief finally sends her back to her people. The princess is unhappy and wants to be back with her husband and children and eventually finds a way back to them by the end of the story.

[superawesomekt · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the story begins, the reader wonders if this Tlingit legend is just another version of the European fairy tale The Frog Prince, but as the pages turn it is obviously its own tale: perhaps more similar to The Little Mermaid...

I loved the illustrations and found the fairy tale compelling, even unsettling. This would be a welcome collection to a global fairy tales or Alaska study unit.

[Ashley Bartholomew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is probably best for second grade age children. This story is about a princess who did not want to marry any of the men who were going after her, she said that she would rather marry a frog. She then went with someone into the lake and lived with and married the frog people. Her parents were unhappy about this but it is where she wanted to be. I could use this in my class as a fun read-aloud book. A problem may be teaching the children that it is just a story.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Traditional Literature
Grade: K-5

I saw connections to the version of the Frog Princess that I had heard before which makes it a great way to compare different cultures. I also thought the author's note at the end was important to understand the value and purpose behind sharing this story. I don't remember reading too many books in traditional literature told from different cultures while in school so I am challenged to find books that do this.

[emyrose8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this is a different version of the story than I'm familiar with. Has an ending typical of many traditional tales.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very unusual story, but interesting. The Roxsanne Litzinger illustrations were interesting as well.

[Shamika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Frog Princess is an excellent example of a fantasy text for children. The text focuses on a connection between the human world and the fantasy world of the frog people, illuminating the physical and cultural differences between the two while simultaneously showing that love can still flourish between the different species. The author's descriptive language and the illustrator's vivid images help children experience the fantastic elements of the story. For example, the text describes and the illustrations depict the unusually long fingers and bulging eyes of the frog prince, giving children an opportunity to see the fantastical creature. Its focus on the princess' gradual transformation into one of the frog people and her parents' difficulty in witnessing this transformation demonstrates the differences between the "real world" and the "fantasy world". There are several other elements of fantasy as well. For example, there is animorphism (the princess turning into a frog), the depiction of an alternate universe (the underwater frog community), and the frog people finding themselves in real situations (the threat of war, the difficulties of yearning for a love that may not be accepted). The fantastical elements of this tale give a great example of what children can expect in some fantasy stories. In addition, the vibrant illustrations keep children's eyes glued to the text. The Frog Princess is an engaging tale that allows children to indulge in a fantasy world where, as the princess' transformation proves, dreams and wishes can become a reality.

[Juliette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ages PreK-3rd grade

Tlingit culture

Story line - average, simple plot, characters believable. A Tlingit princess marries a frog prince. Her parents wake up one night to find her missing and are scared. They find out that she has married the frog prince and her parents go to the king of the frogs and demand that the frogs return her or war will start. They do, but the princess is sad and wants to go back so she sneaks off in the night to return and the frogs move their home to a different lake, hidden and further away from her parents so that they will not be found.

Author - average. This book could have used a glossary or some type of explanation as to what some of the specific Tlingit items, otherwise, this is just a fairy tale with no cultural personality. No Tlingit specific words were used. The author did some research, but the lack of notes on the culture makes this a poor example of the culture.

Illustration - excellent. The illustrator used skin tone and facial variations, as well as illustrating well researched clothing (head dresses) and hair styles.

Text Accuracy - poor to average. If it weren't for the subtitle, Tlingit mentioned a few times in text, and the illustration, I would not have known that the story was about the Tlingit culture. No mention or explanation of foods, celebrations, traditions or religious practices. A couple of feasts are mentioned, but not explained.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the reason I am saying it was ok is my lack of familiarity with this type of folklore of nativeee peoples. I did like the colors used in the illustrations. I will read other stories of this type to learn from a different cultural perspective,

[Gloria Smith]

This teaches to go were you