Picture Books for the Younger Set ~ Too Many Frogs!

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=too+many+frogs&box=too%20many%20frogs&pos=-1, accessed May 4, 2009.

Bibliography

Asher, Sandy. 2005. TOO MANY FROGS! Ill. by Keith Graves. New York, NY: Philomel Books.
ISBN 0399239782

Summary

In this wonderful story about the joys of sharing a book with someone, we meet Rabbit and Froggie. Rabbit lives alone in the hollow of an old tree. He cooks for himself, tidies up after himself, and at the end of each and every day, he reads himself a story. One rainy evening, Rabbit hears a knock-knockety-knocking at his door and finds a rain-soaked Froggy standing outside. After inviting himself in, Froggie stays to hear Rabbit's nightly story. He comes back each night to hear the story, never being invited. On the fourth night Froggie shows up for story time this time with his whole family in tow. This proves to be the last straw for Rabbit who finally tells Froggie that he does mind if they all come in. But as he sits reading alone, Rabbit realizes how nice it is to have a friend to share a story with. In this case, a whole bunch of frogs....but not too many frogs!!

Note: TOO MANY FROGS was a 2006 Texas 2x2 selection.

Reviews

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "This rollicking nod to the pleasures of sharing a good book, features a psychedelic-blue rabbit who savors the isolated bliss of his own living room to read an evening story. Enter boisterous Froggie who disrupts Rabbit's peaceful existence, but loves listening to Rabbit's nightly stories. Rabbit's increasing frustration with his unwelcome guest is delightfully mirrored in his facial expressions and his ear movements, as oblivious Froggie eventually arrives with a horde of amphibian relatives to join the fun. Finally, Rabbit has had enough and throws them all out, only to discover he rather misses their companionship after all. Young children will enjoy the bouncy language, and the repetition as Froggie's visits escalate. Ample white space makes the simple text easy to see, and the different perspectives in the illustrations keep things lively. Humorous details include silly book titles on Rabbit's shelf. Parallel themes of people needing people—or in this case rabbits needing frogs—and the camaraderie of sharing a good story are well presented. "

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Rabbit has a well-scripted, predictable life until Froggie knocks on his door one night. His guest loves to listen to this big blue rabbit with oversized ears read a story and likes it even more when he has prepared himself a snack or gotten cozy-night after night. Polite Rabbit refrains from refusing entry until Froggie shows up with his entire family. As he settles himself down to read alone, however, he realizes that he misses Froggie and invites the whole crew in. The humorous illustrations create empathy for Rabbit but also for Froggie, who is genuinely delighted to listen to a story. The varied facial expressions lend credence to the adage "A picture is worth a thousand words." The simple text may say "but before he could begin, there was that knock-knockety-knocking again!" but the horror on Rabbit's face is priceless. A fun story that celebrates reading and standing up for oneself."

KIRKUS REVIEW: "Asher and Graves pay respects to the pleasures of reading aloud in this tale of a solitary rabbit saddled with an unwanted visitor. One stormy night, just as Rabbit's about to sit down in his easy chair with a book, Frog knocks at the door, begging shelter. After listening raptly while Rabbit reads, Frog departs with thanks-but returns for more the next night, and for several nights after that, making himself more and more at home, too. A peace-loving sort, Rabbit puts up with the intrusion-until Frog shows up with a score of relatives. Using his customary palette of intense, opaque colors, Graves casts the episode with pop-eyed, Ren-and-Stimpy-like figures, comically contrasting rotund, cheery frogs with a bright blue rabbit who sports skinny, immensely long ears and a fussy look. Furiously slamming the door on Frog and his kin, Rabbit then discovers that reading to himself just isn't the same, and so relents. Readers and listeners alike will applaud his decision. "