Peter Easter Frog
Written by Erin Dealey
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Atheneum BYR / Caitlyn Dlouhy Books — January 2021
978-1-4814-6489-5
32 Pages   Age 4—8

Genre:  Children’s Picture Book
Themes: Frogs, Easter Bunny, Easter

 

Back Cover

Here comes Peter Easter Frog,
hopping down his favorite log.
Hippity, hoppity, Easter’s on its—

Wait. Easter Frog?

Peter Easter Frog loves Easter, so he decides to pass out some of his own Easter eggs—after all, why should Bunny have all the fun?! Turtle, Cow, Dog, and Chipmunk all agree.

But what happens when the Easter Bunny finds out?

Opening Sentences

“Here comes Peter Easter Frog,
hopping down his favorite log.
Hippity, hoppity, Easter’s on its—”

Why I like Peter Easter Frog

Peter Easter Frog is a hippity, hoppity happy story in tune with the well-known, child-friendly tune of Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail. Peter Easter Frog cannot finish one verse. Not one. One animal after another stops Peter Easter Frog before the final word; “Easter’s on its—.” Each of these animals, (Turtle, Cow, Dog, and Squirrel), insist Frog cannot be the Easter Bunny. But Frog knows differently. He can hop and he loves Easter. When stopped, Peter Easter Frog makes his cheerful case to the new animal, who then joins Peter Easter Frog delivering his brightly colored Easter eggs.

Peter Easter Frog crosses paths with the real Easter Bunny in a tunnel. Will this be the end of Frog’s time being Peter Easter Frog, or will an Easter miracle occur?

---

Children will love Peter Easter Frog for the easy tune they can join and the comical conversations. My favorite is between Dog and Cow:

“No way! You’re a cow-bunny? That’s ridiculous!”
“Not really. You’re a sheepdog.”
“Good point.”

Parents who like to read in a special voice will have as many voices as there are characters; and can sing Peter Easter Frog down his froggy Easter trail.

The illustrations are charming. The characters are realistic and most are dressed in their Easter finery. Frog is so familiar with the Easter Bunny he wears the same outfit (he adds a pink cap). All animals are animated. Their facial expressions give clues to emotions. Peter Easter Frog is the most expressive using both speech and body language to get his meaning across.

Peter Easter Frog’s cheerful characters and fast, comical text will quickly win over children and parents. The story is fun and the dark turn (“I am The Bunny”) will not scare children. Peter Easter Frog is the perfect character for young children. He’s full of life, very animated, and changes naysayers will a smile and cheerful words. Children will soon have the text memorized, and be on their way to reading to themselves.

Peter Easter Frog will remain a favorite long after Easter.

Illustrations Rendered in mixed media.

Learn More About Author, Erin Dealey:  Website
Learn More About Illustrator, G. Brian Karas:  Website 

Available at Amazon:  Peter Easter Frog  (a few interior images can also be seen here)

PETER EASTER FROG. Text Copyright © 2021 by Erin Dealey. Illustrations Copyright © 2021 by G. Brian Karas. Published by Atheneum BYR / Caitlyn Dlouhy Books / Simon & Schuster Children’s Division, New York, NY.

 

Review Copyright © 2021 by Sue Morris/Kid Lit Reviews. All Rights Reserved
[344—word count-review only]

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