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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Monmouth Public Library | TAYLOR | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Fresh as the first daffodil of spring, here is a story about finding a new home and new friends. A tiny tree frog sees a family put a special apple-shaped birdhouse in his tree. The frog has never seen a bird live in an apple, so he thinks it must be a house for a frog. On a whim, he moves in, then welcomes one curious new visitor after another. Never has life been so exciting! Stunning folk-art illustrations of the natural world by award-winning illustrator Barbara Garrison embellish this springtime charmer, giving it a look as cozy as the frog house itself.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-When a family places an apple-shaped birdhouse in a tree, a green tree frog quickly moves into it. The rest of the story consists of the frog's interactions with several animals that approach his new home, including a robin, a crow, a squirrel, and a cat. The tale concludes when a female tree frog wanders by and, impressed by the shiny, red apple-house, decides to stay. None of these encounters creates any excitement, danger, or amusement for the protagonist, aside from some mild swaying of his abode. The text consists of a series of flat hello-and-good-bye exchanges between the creatures. Fortunately, the illustrations have more interest and depth than the story line. Collages of paper, leaves, feathers, and other materials were glued to cardboard, coated with gesso and acrylic, and pressed with rag paper, and the resulting prints were then colored with watercolor washes. The pictures are folksy, warm, and intricately textured. Although the plot is slight, the striking artwork may spark young readers' imaginations and inspire them to create more dramatic conversations between the tree frog and his neighbors.-Eve Ortega, Cypress Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Mother Nature shines in wildlife science expert and first-time author Taylor's quietly appealing tale about various animals' reaction to something surprising-and confusing-in their environment. A man and his two children place a wooden birdhouse that looks like a red apple in the branches of a tree. A tree frog spies the unusual-looking object and quickly claims it as his own frog house. Soon curious birds of all feathers-as well as a squirrel and a cat-come by to investigate the odd red structure and, by extension, its inhabitant. Only when a beautiful tree frog happens along does the amphibian homeowner find the kind of truly appreciative friend with whom he'd like to share his abode. All throughout this breezily paced story, Taylor balances a slightly fanciful tone with a few tidbits about animal behavior (squirrels eat nuts and fruits; crows like bright things). Garrison's (Another Celebrated Dancing Bear) collographs-a type of print that begins with a textured, layered collage plate and ends with a watercolor wash-take on a substantial, rough-hewn look. Her compositions blend earthy hues and cheery blasts of color, just as many scenes convey realistic detail along with some whimsy. Ages 4-7. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
An apple-shaped birdhouse becomes home for a tree frog, but his rest is interrupted by three birds, a squirrel, and a cat. Ultimately, he finds a frog friend to share his house. Themes of home and friendship are smoothly integrated into the story, and unusual illustrations create an old-fashioned look, but the story's repetition and rapid conclusion may turn off some readers. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Taylor spins gold, or potential gold, into straw with this uninspired elaboration of a real backyard incident. Coming upon a newly mounted birdhouse shaped and colored like an apple, a tree frog moves in all of his furnishings--and then is unaccountably pleased when one bird after another, a squirrel, and finally a cat, arrives to peck, bite, or inspect his new home. All leave quietly as soon as Frog pops out: "Oh me! I am very sorry Frog. I didn't mean to scare you." Making prints from collages constructed with natural materials, Garrison creates grainy, heavily textured branch-top scenes in a naïve style, framing Frog and his "visitors" in bark, nuts, leaves, and sprigs of apple blossoms. The colorful art may draw younger children, but the wooden writing and nowhere plot won't keep their attention. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
PreS-Gr. 2. As a girl, boy, and father place a wooden birdhouse, shaped and painted like an apple, in a tree, a little green tree frog watches. The frog has seen birds move into birdhouses but never into a wooden apple, so he thinks the house has been put there for him. In he hops, but he must still convince a robin, a crow, a bluebird, and a squirrel that his new home is, indeed, perfect for a frog. That done, he settles in, and his spring peeping songs entice a female tree frog to join him. The story has a sweet twist, but it's the illustrations that beguile here. An illustrator's note describes the artwork as a series of textured collage (including organic materials) scenes printed by inking the surface and adding watercolor washes. The effect is a tactile-looking, nature-fresh, folk-art style that enhances the simple story, giving it plenty of distinctive charm. --Julie Cummins Copyright 2004 Booklist