Starred review from May 1, 2021
In what is in essence a nonfiction early-chapter-book in verse, a young girl moves to a new home. She's lonely, but when she explores the garden, she observes a small treefrog. With no friends, she adopts the treefrog as a surrogate companion and searches for it every day. An expository note placed in the lower right-hand corner of every double-page spread expands each sighting by providing scientific facts about the treefrog's habitat and life cycle. Sidman's narrative, composed of a series of short poems, relates the girl's story of discovering and contemplating the frog, and of eventually finding a human friend who is also happy to observe nature. Sudyka's watercolors showcase the settings and give life to the metaphors -- the changing seasons; the rich jewel tones of the frog's surroundings; the treefrog clinging to a leaf, or "snug saddle"; and the quiet pleasures of sharing nature. The language in these poems is simple but not simplistic: "I hope you are / somewhere / safe / Treefrog // holding on tight / with those grippy toes / riding your / snug saddle of leaves." Each entry crafts a single episode; together the poems construct a clear narrative arc. Appended with a four-part discussion, nicely organized with pertinent headings, about treefrogs and their survival. Altogether lovely. Betty Carter
(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
May 1, 2021
In what is in essence a nonfiction early-chapter-book in verse, a young girl moves to a new home. She's lonely, but when she explores the garden, she observes a small treefrog. With no friends, she adopts the treefrog as a surrogate companion and searches for it every day. An expository note placed in the lower right-hand corner of every double-page spread expands each sighting by providing scientific facts about the treefrog's habitat and life cycle. Sidman's narrative, composed of a series of short poems, relates the girl's story of discovering and contemplating the frog, and of eventually finding a human friend who is also happy to observe nature. Sudyka's watercolors showcase the settings and give life to the metaphors -- the changing seasons; the rich jewel tones of the frog's surroundings; the treefrog clinging to a leaf, or "snug saddle"; and the quiet pleasures of sharing nature. The language in these poems is simple but not simplistic: "I hope you are / somewhere / safe / Treefrog // holding on tight / with those grippy toes / riding your / snug saddle of leaves." Each entry crafts a single episode; together the poems construct a clear narrative arc. Appended with a four-part discussion, nicely organized with pertinent headings, about treefrogs and their survival. Altogether lovely. Betty Carter
(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
Starred review from December 1, 2020
Grades K-3 *Starred Review* When an inquisitive, shy girl finds a treefrog in front of her new house, the quiet creature, "a tiny dollop of / frog / where before / there was only leaf," becomes an emblem for the girl's feelings over the course of the seasons as she faces a new school and misses an old friend. Looking for and wondering about the frog, meanwhile, becomes a grounding comfort for the girl: "I look / and breathe / and / settle / growing / calmer / steadier / a little less lonely." As the seasons turn and the treefrog hibernates, the girl makes a friend as interested in quiet observation as she is, and they patiently wait for the return of spring when they can look for the amphibian again. In compelling contrast to Sidman's spare verses, Sudyka's warm, detailed paintings, dense with overlapping wide green leaves and jostling oversize, boldly colored blooms, lovingly showcase lush natural areas, with lots of other wildlife tucked into the habitat. Unobtrusive text labels plants and animals, and, while stylized, the figures are realistic enough to identify individual species. A few lines of prose on each page spread offer additional facts about treefrogs, and back matter provides even more opportunities for learning. This artful picture book seamlessly blends science, poetry, and mindfulness, encouraging little ones to get outside, slow down, and look closely at what's around them.
COPYRIGHT(2020) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from April 1, 2021
Sometimes all it takes is finding an unexpected friend, waiting and still, ready for play. A young child with pale skin, short black hair, and (literally) almond-shaped eyes has just moved to a new home. Unsure of this big change, the child holds a cat stuffie and looks askance at the movers. Then a little frog catches the child's eye. Spread by spread, season by season, lyrical poems tell the story of this budding friendship, in which the child learns to be still and see small details in this world, as an artist or scientist does. These deceptively simple poems contain a multitude of poetic devices. Short, expressive facts about tree frogs also accompany the poems. In playing with the frog, the child mimics its movements, and on one spread, they are both depicted with the same speckles and black outline. This oneness helps the child feel less lonely and eventually find a friend in a brown-skinned classmate who is equally still and observant. Sudyka's bold lines and vivid watercolor palette paint an immersive, verdant world, with occasional color pops. Whimsical flourishes often blur the child's real and imaginary worlds while concealed in the illustrations are names of birds, bugs, flowers, and more for young scientists to discover. Backmatter provides additional information about tree frogs, perfect for STEAM lessons. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) A child, a tree frog, and a poignant, poetic journey to find a sense of home. (Picture book/poetry. 4-7)
COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
January 1, 2021
In what is in essence a nonfiction early-chapter-book in verse, a young girl moves to a new home. She's lonely, but when she explores the garden, she observes a small treefrog. With no friends, she adopts the treefrog as a surrogate companion and searches for it every day. An expository note placed in the lower right-hand corner of every double-page spread expands each sighting by providing scientific facts about the treefrog's habitat and life cycle. Sidman's narrative, composed of a series of short poems, relates the girl's story of discovering and contemplating the frog, and of eventually finding a human friend who is also happy to observe nature. Sudyka's watercolors showcase the settings and give life to the metaphors -- the changing seasons; the rich jewel tones of the frog's surroundings; the treefrog clinging to a leaf, or "snug saddle"; and the quiet pleasures of sharing nature. The language in these poems is simple but not simplistic: "I hope you are / somewhere / safe / Treefrog // holding on tight / with those grippy toes / riding your / snug saddle of leaves." Each entry crafts a single episode; together the poems construct a clear narrative arc. Appended with a four-part discussion, nicely organized with pertinent headings, about treefrogs and their survival. Altogether lovely.
(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)