At a recent charity book sale I picked up a couple of books from the Frog series by Max Velthuijs. Reading them today I marvel at the way these simple books for young children contain such wisdom.The series begins with Frog is Frog. My favourite is Frog is a Hero. I need to add this one to my own collection.
Wikipedia have a page devoted to this series: Frog "observes daily events from a childlike perspective, offering children insight into social interactions. In Frog's world, there is no status. All the animals are the same size, which gives them absolute equality. Every animal has its own personality and skills. Frog and his friends enjoy life and deal with real life issues, such as fear, love, sadness, and loss, making these difficult subjects and emotions more understandable for children. At the end of each book, there's always a positive solution for the dilemma's the animals face."
Max Velthuijs received the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2004 he died in 2005.
Here are three I have added to my shelves:
Frog and the Stranger (1993)
Is this new fellow a filthy dirty rat? A greedy fellow? A thief? No he is not. He is kind. He has stories to tell of his travels around the world. He is clever and can even speak three languages. Frog is keen to make a new friend but it will take several disasters to convince Duck, Hare and Pig that Rat does not deserve the harsh judgements they levelled at him before taking time to get to know him.
Blurb: When a rat comes to live at the edge of their wood, the animals decide they don't like having a stranger in their midst. But Frog is friendly by nature, and decides to find out if Rat is really as unpleasant as he is made out to be. As Frog discovers, Rat is intelligent and good-hearted, and proves in a series of unexpected emergencies that the other animals have been too quick to condemn him.
Key sentences: "He may be different from us, but he's not doing anything wrong and the wood belongs to everyone." "Different said Frog, but we're all different."
Themes: New friends; Suspicion; Listening; Prejudice; Acceptance of difference; Kindness; Strangers
Frog and the Wide World (1998)
In a previous book (Frog and the Stranger) we met Rat. In this new installment Rat is setting off on an adventure. Frog asks if he can come along too but Frog is not really prepared for the long walk and sleeping outdoors. After a couple of days Frog becomes quite homesick so Rat agrees to lead him home. When all the friends are gathered together Frog describes his adventure with Rat in glowing terms. This ending is sure to make you smile. I would pair this book with The Trip to Panama by Janosch.
Blurb: When Frog hears that Rat is off in an adventure to explore the wide world, he excitedly joins him and they set off full of anticipation. But it doesn't take long for Frog to start missing his friends Pig, Duck and Hare. He soon discovers that he was much happier leaving the wide world where it was, far from home. . .
Key Sentence: "Right now, we're on our way to foreign lands. Look around you! See how beautiful it is? And every where is the unknown." "You're not ill, you're homesick."
Themes: Adventures; Journeys; Patience; Perseverance; Home; Storytelling.
Frog finds a Friend (2001)
Frog finds a teddy bear lying in the grass. He is sure given time and patience he can teach the bear to talk and indeed this is exactly what happens. Little Bear and Frog become great friends until one day Bear decides to leave. Frog is so upset but then one morning Frog wakes up to find Little Bear has returned - this is his true home.
Blurb: One fine autumn day, Frog finds a little bear lost and alone in the forest. He decides to take him home to be his new friend. Hare tells him bear won't be able to talk, but Frog is determined to teach him. And to the other animals' surprise, he does! They become the best of friends, but one day, little bear decides to go back to where he came from. Frog is inconsolable - will he ever see him again?
Key sentences: "He went up closer and saw that it was a little brown bear wearing a red sweater. It had beady black eyes and there was a teardrop on its cheek." "Before going to sleep, Frog told little bear fairytales and taught him words such as apple, rose moon ..."
Themes: New friends; Patience; Toys; Imagination; Kindness.
Here are all twelve Frog titles:
- Frog and a very Special Day Frog
- Finds a Friend
- Frog in Winter
- Frog is a Hero
- Frog and the Treasure
- Frog is Frog
- Frog and the Wide World
- Frog is Frightened
- Frog and the Birdsong
- Frog in Love
- Frog and the Stranger
- Frog is Sad
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