'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Thursday 7 June 2012

Review: The Pros and Cons of Being a Frog

I love it when a book arrives and you drop everything to open it. I mean, everything. You take one look at the cover and you simply can't wait a moment longer to see what's inside. VoilĂ  The Pros and Cons of Being a Frog.

I also love it when you see that book is by one of your fave authors or illustrators and you go 'ahhh - yes, that explains it'. So is the case with Sue deGennaro.

So. What are the pros and cons of being a frog?
Well, the pros are that being dressed in a frog costumer can make you feel brave. And also, you're less likely to be chased by a dog if you're dressed as a frog (as opposed to being dressed like a cat).

The cons? Well, not everyone may want to dress as a frog. And if you start getting bossy about your frog costume, the friend that helped you sort the costume may just up and leave.

Pros. Cons. It can be tough being a kid. It can be tough hanging onto friends . . . particularly when you are so different.

But hanging onto friends is easy when we can accept our differences, and realise that we're oftentimes more alike than we could ever imagine.

This gorgeous book is not only cleverly written, it is an absolute delight for the eyes. Sue deGennaro has a brilliant knack for combining modern yet whimsical illustrations with unusual, artsy undertones and design layout that is just so beautiful, it screams avant-garde without feeling alienating or pretentious.

Absolutely worth seeking out, and absolutely worth dressing up for.

Title: The Pros and Cons of Being a Frog
Author/Illustrator: Sue deGennaro
Publisher: Scholastic, $26.95 RRP
Publication Date: 21 March 2012
Format: Hard cover
ISBN: 9781742830636
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Book