I Don't Want to Be a Frog

The hit book about a willful young frog with a serious identity crisis and his heard-it-all-before father. Perfect for fans of Mo Willems's Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back!

Frog wants to be anything but a slimy, wet frog. A cat, perhaps. Or a rabbit. An owl? But when a hungry wolf arrives--a wolf who HATES eating frogs--our hero decides that being himself isn't so bad after all. In this very silly story with a sly message, told in hilarious dialogue between a feisty young frog and his heard-it-all-before father, young readers will identify with little Frog's desire to be something different, while laughing along at his stubborn yet endearing schemes to prove himself right.

And look for the hilarious sequels--I Don't Want to Be Big, There's Nothing to Do!, and I Don't Want to Go to Sleep.

★ "First-time author Petty's dialogue between a frog father and his son makes its point about accepting one's nature with a big grin. . . . The story might create similar gratitude in the minds of readers--or it might just make them giggle."--Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

"A lively look at self-acceptance."--Kirkus Reviews

"This amusing story ends with a laugh and a much more content frog."--School Library Journal

"Silliness and deadpan humor combine into a hopping good story of being happy with who you are."--Booklist

"A paean to self-acceptance wrapped in snappy dialogue and illustrated with richly colored comic paintings."--Wall Street Journal

"Petty and Boldt provide just enough predictability to hook youngest readers, then deliver a delightful twist or two to create surprise and satisfaction--for both the green hero and the many fans he'll make with this book."--Shelf Awareness

"This lighthearted exploration of identity will delight as a readaloud."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Author: Dev Petty
Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Published: 02/10/2015
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 10.10h x 10.20w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9780385378666
Audience: 03 - 07

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 1.6
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 174224 / I Don't Want to Be a Frog


Award: Texas 2x2 Reading List - Recommended
Award: Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 11/15/2014
Publishers Weekly 11/24/2014
School Library Journal 12/01/2014 pg. 109
Shelf Awareness 02/27/2015
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 06/01/2015
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2015 pg. 48 - Recommended, Satisfactory
PW Children's Starred Reviews 12/02/2015 pg. 35

About the Author
DEV PETTY is the author of I Don't Want to Be a Frog, I Don't Want to Be Big, There's Nothing to Do!, and I Don't Want to Go to Sleep. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, Dev previously worked as a visual-effects artist in film, contributing to such movies as the Matrix Trilogy. Dev was born and raised in Berkeley, California, and now lives right next door in Albany with her husband, two daughters, some dogs, and other critters. Visit her online at devpetty.com and on Twitter at @devpetty.

MIKE BOLDT is an author and illustrator living in the countryside of Alberta, Canada. His picture books include I Don't Want to Be a Frog (written by Dev Petty), Bad Dog, and Find Fergus. When he's not drawing, he's building snow forts and Lego spaceships with his three kids, or sharing laughs and his ice cream with his wife. Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeBoldt and on Instagram at @thatmikeboldt, and learn more about Mike at mikeboldt.ca.