Overview

The grounded magic of Miyazaki meets a timeless sibling adventure story in this account of legend, truth, and the overlap thereof. When Kit’s little brother Peedie worries for the safety of a cluster of frog eggs they find by the pond, Kit tosses out an easy reassurance: the Great Frog will look after them.  In the following days, though, Peedie’s questions keep the tall tale growing bigger. Now, Kit tells him, the Great Frog has a horse in the stars and a castle on the moon, a fountain and a garden and a lasso. And pretty soon Peedie is sure the Great Frog will visit any day now.  But when Kit at last comes clean that she made it all up, Peedie isn’t upset like she feared. Just because something is a story, he points out, doesn’t mean it’s not true; and there are still protectors of the small in the world.   Dreamy, timeless, and deeply philosophical in the way all four-year-olds are, The Great Frog deftly captures the bond between a big sister trying to get things right and a little brother who knows she can do no wrong. Katie Palazzola’s thoughtful, funny text and lush illustrations are a treat for siblings, worriers, and nature lovers alike.

Full Product Details

9780823459780

Table of Contents

Reviews

[A]n insightful picture book debut from Palazzola that’s set around a clutch of frogspawn. . . . Mixed-media artwork imbues the Great Frog’s domain with rich texture and romanticism, while the children’s world remains simplified in thin-lined cartoons. Via smart vignettes, the children’s frank discussion captures something essential about protecting vulnerability that’s worth dwelling on. —Publishers Weekly (starred review) With succinct wordplay, the book effortlessly highlights a specific kind of kid logic. . . . [E]choes gentle sibling relationships everywhere. . . . Tenderly appreciative of the very small, whether that’s brothers or amphibians. —Kirkus Reviews [I]nfuses whimsy into a lesson about a frog’s life cycle, combining the amusing mythology with a bit of science and a beautifully drawn familial relationship. The illustrations are inviting, whether capturing a cavorting sky-frog or sibling shenanigans. An unusual and affectionate reminder to look after the little things—and each other. —Booklist

There’s room enough for every reader—and every hue—in this charming ode to creativity. —Kirkus Reviews

[A]n insightful picture book debut from Palazzola that’s set around a clutch of frogspawn. . . . Mixed-media artwork imbues the Great Frog’s domain with rich texture and romanticism, while the children’s world remains simplified in thin-lined cartoons. Via smart vignettes, the children’s frank discussion captures something essential about protecting vulnerability that’s worth dwelling on. —Publishers Weekly (starred review) With succinct wordplay, the book effortlessly highlights a specific kind of kid logic. . . . [E]choes gentle sibling relationships everywhere. . . . Tenderly appreciative of the very small, whether that’s brothers or amphibians. —Kirkus Reviews

Author Information

Katie Palazzola is a picture book author, artist, and poet. She studied Creative Arts Therapy at the New School and has worked as an art teacher, research analyst, and children’s literature collection development specialist. Katie lives in a little purple house in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband, daughter, and dog.

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