posted on 30 Sep 2018

Froggy Day by Heather Pindar, illustrated by Barbara Bakos

The frog is one of those creatures that is always destined to be successful as a picture book character. Perhaps it is because of the way their faces have evolved to give them a smiling, friendly appearance? They also have an integral bounciness which helps them to move quickly and sometimes unpredictably, rather like young children themselves.

This picture book promises to be a jolly reading experience with the cover showing a happy looking frog kicking out one leg with another resting on his hip as he stands under his big yellow umbrella that spreads across and beyond the page edges. The silhouetted tall buildings in the background are perhaps a reference to the wonderful film ‘Singing in the Rain’? As I hummed the song to myself I immediately associated this frog with the easy- going nonchalance of that memorable character played by Gene Kelly. 

The story begins with two children sitting at home with their pets watching the wide screen TV showing the weather woman who predicts ‘very froggy weather’. This causes mayhem as all the frogs from far and wide decide to make her forecast come true. The second double page spread shows many of them parachuting downwards onto the streets below holding their own umbrellas. There is scope for plenty of humorous language play as car windows get ‘frogged up’ and the drivers get ‘hopping mad'. I loved the way that the mischievous frogs invade the bus, ringing on the bell over and over again (as little ones love to do). The grown- ups look very cross but the same two children smile and wave at them. Next we see more frogs cavorting across the park, annoying people and dogs as they do so. Next they cause havoc in the supermarket, on a building site, farm, out at sea and on the dodgems at the fairground.

This picture book uses sparse text that gallops across the pages, sometimes in a bold typeface and with a variety of fonts and directions for the reader to follow. The pace is made tremendously energetic by the lively illustrations by Barbara Bakos who draws us on and on across the pages following the various froggy antics. There is so much detail for young readers to focus on as the story unfolds and I am sure that they will be cheering them on as they cause havoc wherever they go.

 Perhaps it is a step too far for the frogs to go to school, stern looking Mrs Pickles certainly thinks so, but the children are naturally delighted as the behaviour of the frogs gives them licence to jump about on the furniture. I think that the underlying anarchy as one naughty frog pokes out his tongue at the teacher makes this one of my favourite pages

The story comes pleasingly full circle with the two children back at home, plus a few frogs watching the same TV weather woman who warns that tomorrow’s weather is going to be ‘warm and bunny … very bunny.’ It seems that another picture book with a similar formula is likely to follow at some point.

Maverick Arts Publishing is a company that gives welcome attention to the overall aesthetic design of all their books as well as a compelling narrative. I strongly recommend this one which has the usual successful balance between text and illustrations produced in a generously large and brightly coloured format that is sure to be enjoyed by young readers and adults alike..

 

Karen Argent

September 2018