Mike Boldt

This book is wryly funny and full of heart. A young frog thinks life would be better if he were another sort of critter. He doesn't see anything positive about being wet, slimy and full of bugs until a hungry wolf helps him find self-acceptance. I love the use of perspective in this story. It's common for children to experiment with identities and wish they were someone, or something, else. It's a wise parent who indulges this imaginative play, then helps them appreciate the good things show more about being who they really are. This books is a wonderful illustration of that process. show less

Mike Boldt has done it again! Colors versus Shapes is a hilarious book about the making of a book. Two teams - colors and shapes - both forth their arguments about why the book should be about them and only them. An accident causes them to realize that if they work together, the book can be about both of them!

If you read Boldt's previous book, 123 versus ABC and enjoyed it, you'll also like this one. It is clearly in the same vein and even spots some cameo appearances from the first book. In show more addition, one of the main characters here (the red dot) first made his/her entrance in the final pages of the first book - a fun Easter egg for kids who are familiar with both books.

That being said though, this book stands well on its own and doesn't need the first book to make this one humorous. I read this book with a 4-year-old and a 7-year-old, both of whom really enjoyed it and asked to hear it several times. It works particularly well as a read aloud, as an adult can navigate each different character speaking at any given moment (the book is told entirely through dialogue) and do different voices for them. However, the language is by and large simple enough that beginner readers can access this book on their own as well.

The illustrations are fairly basic but they are lively and fun, giving a lot of energy and enthusiasm to this book along with all the excited dialogue from the characters. I very much recommend this book if you're looking for something humorous to share with the little ones in your life. show less

I've fallen for Dev Petty and Mike Boldt again. I Don't Want to be a Frog reunites us with our spunky frog friend and his glasses-wearing dad as he continually asserts that he'd rather be anything except a frog. Once again, the humor and illustrations pair together perfectly to tell a fantastic little story about an adolescent amphibian that doesn't feel overly satisfied with his lot in life. (Frogs have to eat bugs after all. Yuck!) Get ready for the end because it's sure to cause howls of show more laughter with the little people in your life as you read it out loud to them. I could go on and on about how much fun I think this book is but I have to get back to reading. :-P

PS This is definitely one for storytime. show less

This clever picture book pits the number 1 versus the letter A as they argue over whether the book is really about numbers or about letters, with ample evidence to supply both with proof for their case (i.e., one alligator appears on the scene followed by two bears and three cars, etc.). By the time the two decide to call it a day, they've counted to 26 and covered all the letters in the alphabet ... and encountered a lost red dot looking for a book about colors!

I borrowed this book from show more the library because I heard good early buzz about it and wanted to share it with my kindergarten class. They absolutely loved the book, sitting enraptured throughout story time. When I was done reading the book, the kids all said it was funny. The splash of red showing up at the end was particularly hysterical to them! show less