Excuse Me!
PreSchool-Grade 2-Frog has a problem. He loves to eat and he loves to burp. When he's a tadpole, the other frogs think his behavior is "cute," but as he gets bigger and his belches get louder, they begin to think it's quite disgusting. Finally, unable to stand it any longer, they send him "up the river." Far away from home, he hears burping in the nearby town and discovers other frogs that eat and burp day and night. At first life is blissful, but then even he becomes fed up with their bad manners. Spotting publicity about the Great Annual Frog Jam back home, he returns in disguise, "nervous that he would not be welcome." When he arrives, a crowd is already gathered around the Three-Beetle Chili, and the mayor's family and others are lapping it up. When Baby Mayor emits "a gigantic burp," everyone else follows, including Frog, and his disguise flies off. "You are excused!" Mr. Mayor declares, and the outcast is enthusiastically welcomed back. From the first page that introduces the lovable, bottle-green frog, fork in hand, to the final spread that shows lumpy green frogs in a circle, holding webbed hands, children will revel in Frog's antics. The scenes of slimy-looking food and clouds of belches come to life in warm-toned, acrylic spreads. This will be a great read-aloud, but get ready to hear listeners do some burping of their own.Leslie Barban, Richland County Public Library, Columbia, SCCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.