Toad

Book received promptly and was in very good condition. I wish I had known whether or not the seller had more than one copy available, as I needed several copies for gifts for teachers.

This book was unappealing to me at first glance, but the children in storytime loved it. The pictures are large and attractive, the cadences are natural and easy to read aloud and the subject is a winner for preschoolers. I like the use of rare vocabulary words used in a way that is self explanatory. Wish it would come back in print- I'd order several.

"Toad" by Ruth Brown describes the real life of an ordinary toad. Murky, brownish, darkish green pictures fill the book in dramatic two-page spreads, capturing the action of each page. This is not a great book; it is a fun book. Reading it is like playing in a puddle, or squishing wet clay into a new shape. Toads, when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, are creatures that dwell in mud, eat vile things, and neither taste nor smell pleasant. Brown tells us about the toad as it really is. The vocabulary, with words like septic, toxic, bitter, venomous, and my favorite, trundle, will sometimes be beyond most children. They will learn new words as they return to the book again and again. I enjoyed it the way I enjoy Oscar the Grouch. Have fun with this one. Anthony Trendl editor, HungarianBookstore.com

My son is 21 months and this is his absolute favorite book. He LOVES all of the pictures and the muddy, mucky, sticky, gooey TOAD! This book is so much fun to read, and it really gets my son excited about reading. Best of all are the fabulous illustrations. We have come to love Ruth Brown's books, and we think that she is the best children's illustrator around.

While babysitting, I read this book to two girls: 2 and 5 years old. They LOVED it. You can really have fun with the words - gooey slimy bug crunching - and change your tone while reading. It's a sure fire winner.