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PRESCHOOL
Gustavson, Adam

The Froggies Do NOT Want to Sleep

40 pp. | Charlesbridge | June, 2021 | Trade ISBN 978-1-58089-524-8 $16.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-63289-839-5 $9.99
(2) PS This fanciful yarn begins with a small army of long-legged, yellow-eyed frogs mischievously slinking out of their collective bed. "The froggies do NOT want to sleep. They want to hop." A joyous double-page spread showcases the amphibians leaping in every direction across an all-white background. From here things get weird, fast. The frogs' interests quickly escalate in both scale and plausibility, from playing the accordion to jousting to blasting into outer space. The brief, straightforward text is cleverly incorporated into the book's design to reinforce meaning, maximize page-turns, and steer viewers' eyes through the illustrations. The visual climax of the tale features the frogs crash-landing into a "giant jelly-headed space monster" who tickles them, sending them back to Earth and ultimately back to bed. Vivid gouache and watercolor illustrations feature bold, energetic brushstrokes. Secondary action (a one-eyed alien hitches a ride to Earth with the frogs) and amusing details (the frogs drink a soda called "Croak") abound, adding an extra layer of whimsy.
Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

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