I Don't Want to Be a Frog

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 about being who they really are. This books is a wonderful illustration of that process.

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 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.

This comedic story is a favorite in my household. A little frog is determined to be just about anything besides a frog....frogs are slimy, wet, and full of bugs. A wolf comes along and reminds him that frogs aren't on his menu....because they're slimy, wet, and full of bugs.

At a glance it's a comedic and lighthearted read....but, on a deeper level there is an important message here for children about self acceptance and image positivity.

A super fun and meaningful read!'

So my first thought it that this book is cute and I really like it, however, we are a more enlightened age. This book is all about being who you are born to be. You cant be someone/thing else because you were not born the way they were. And while my initial reaction is I like this book, my second thought is how would a trans kid feel reading this, and it makes me think this book is not so great.

Recommended by Linda D.

I really enjoyed this picture book and thought it was very funny, but four days later I had completely forgotten reading it. I expect I'll enjoy it again. Without too much moralizing, the dad frog is able to demonstrate to his son that there are good things about being a frog.

Enjoyable a second and even third time! The expressions on the little frog and papa frog's faces are great, as are the variations in the script ("I want to be a ___" "You can't be a ___ because ___").

I enjoyed this book for a couple reasons. The characters hold the classic parent and child relationship. The child does not fully understand why certain things in life work, and the parent is trying to be patient in helping the child understand. Every time the young frog would ask why he couldn’t be another animal, the father frog would calmly list reasons of why it wouldn’t be possible. For example, when the young frog wanted to be a rabbit, the father said that although frogs hop like rabbits, they do not have long ears like rabbits. He then asked the young frog what was wrong with being a frog, in which the young frog replied that he doesn’t like being slimy. The illustrations also made this book enjoyable. Being a fantasy show more book, it showed animals talking, wearing glasses, and doing humanly things. At one point, the father frog was giving a presentation to the young frog on why a frog cannot be an owl. He used a pointer and larger poster with listed reasons. It enhances the silliness of the text and gives even more to the character development by emphasizing the roles of the two frogs. Overall, the message of the book is about discovering identity and accepting who you are. In the end of the book, the young frog becomes happy with who he is after a wolf tells him he doesn’t eat frogs. He comes to realize being a frog isn’t so bad. Though this is a fantasy book, this can reflect back to what humans go through on the path to accepting their own race or culture. show less

This is a charming book with funny pictures that delivers an important message about self-acceptance. Through his funny dialogue between a stubborn frog and his wise father, the story explores the theme of wanting to be something you are not. The expressive illustrations perfectly compliment the witty text, making it enjoyable for both kids and adults. This book will remind students to embrace who they are.