Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday
Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!
Frog Song
Author: Brenda Z. Guiberson
Illustrator: Gennady Spirin
Published February 5th, 2013 by Henry Holt and Co.
Goodreads Summary: Since the time of the dinosaurs, frogs have added their birrups and bellows to the music of the earth. Frogs are astonishing in their variety and crucial to ecosystems. Onomatopoeic text and stunning illustrations introduce young readers to these fascinating and important creatures, from Chile to Nepal to Australia.
Review and Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: I must admit–I am not a fan of frogs. They actually scare me quite a bit. They are so sporadic and unpredictable–one even jumped on my head at a party once! However, animals of all kind fascinate me and this is a book full of amazing facts about these slimy, jumpy creatures. The book is set up so that it is easy to navigate with quick interesting facts about 11 different frogs (& toads) with extra information in the back. I also liked the information given in the back about the trouble that frogs are in because of human activity. I think this book would be a great asset in any science classroom studying biology or ecology (would also be wonderful in a reading class or even a geography lesson because of the different places the frogs came from). Another wonderful way this book could be used in a reading class is because of all of the onomatopoeias within the book. I would love to hear the actual sounds of the frogs and then see the onomatopoeia that the author chose.
Discussion Questions: Which frog fact fascinates you the most? Do extra research about this frog and find other interesting facts about the animal.; Compare and contrast two of the frogs.; Write a fact book about animals like Frog Songs and include the sounds the animals make.
We Flagged: “In Chile, the Darwin’s frog sings in the beech forest. CHIRP-CHWEEET! The male guards 30 eggs in the damp leaves for three weeks. when the tadpoles wiggle, he scoops them into his mouth. SLURP! They slither into his vocal sacs, where he keeps them safe and moist for seven weeks. Then he gives a big yawn, and the little froglets pop out.” (p. 16)
Read This If You Loved: Lifetime by Lola Schaefer, Actual Size by Steve Jenkins, Island by Jason Chin, Seabird in the Forest by Joan Dunning, Slap, Squeak, and Scatter by Steve Jenkins
Recommended For:
I did a NF lesson with this book, Kellee, & the students loved that frog from Chile too, fascinating, as are all the others! Beautiful book!
Hearing things like this makes me miss being in the classroom, but I also love hearing the stories. Glad students are enjoying these fantastic NF books.
I do love frogs and I like all of the titles you mentioned here so I think i need to read this book. I’ve heard some wonderful things.
You would love it 🙂
My students really enjoyed Frog Song, especially some of the more unusual and shocking ways the little froglets were “incubated”! This title was on our Mock Caldecott.
I can see kids really loving some of the facts–they are just the right amount of weird.
I enjoyed this book even though I don’t like frogs or non-fiction. The illustrations are great. The image under the dust jacket is different than in the cover. Also, it’ll be good to read with Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle.
I REALLY don’t like frogs, but the book was so fascinating and the illustrations were great.
I don’t know that Eric Carle–will need to get it.