We meet Piggie as he bounces about on the page, jumping like a frog and ribbiting as though his life depended on it.
Gerald the elephant is, understandably, curious about
and concerned for his friend. After all, Piggie’s a pig, not a frog. Why the
bouncing and ribbiting?
The friendship between the two characters who are so very, very different, is presented through colour, fun and movement.
Piggie’s chaotic energy is
contagious. Gerald’s anxiety is crippling. Yet as readers, we love and accept
them both!
Willems has
done a superb job as an authorstrator (a new word I learnt this week!) and the
book rollicks along with clever, witty wording, and perfect pictures. The narrative
is full of giggles, innuendo and subtle facial and bodily expressions, along
with delightful banter.
Told completely
in speech bubbles with a wonderful repetitive use of familiar phrases, this
book is the perfect companion for children who are just learning to read.
The
narrative incorporates universal themes such as worry and anxiety, to then cleverly
harness such ideas as friendship, optimism and pure unbridled joy as natural antidotes.
A timely and very wonderful part of this book is that it addresses the elephants in the room (which are both Gerald the elephant and his elephant-sized anxiety) with warmth, dignity, fun and sparkle.
Title: I’m A Frog!
Author Illustrator: Mo Willems
Publisher: Walker Books, $27.99
Publication Date: 2 August 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781529516081
For ages: 4 +
Type: Picture Book