Frog’s Tale

Frog’s Tale by Susea Spray, illustrated by Patricia F. Braga (Spray Publications) ISBN 978-1-7642083-0-7  RRP $19.60 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

“A frog on a log in a bog in the fog.”

This whimsical story follows a frog flipped off a log by a clog, a hog, and a dog, all while a girl rides a dragon. The story begins simply with a two-word sentence: “The fog.” It is told in a cumulative style, with a series of other objects and animals landing on a log with the frog, eventually toppling off into the bog.

The author, Susea Spray, purposely tells the story using simple rhyming words, repeated in short sentences. The sentences lengthen as the tension increases, and the story ends with the same sentence that it started with, giving it both a symmetry and a poetic feel. Along with the rhyme and assonance, the text is rich with onomatopoeic words such as “Squeeeeal!” “Thwunnnk” and “Splat”, scattered throughout the illustrations.

With very few words, much of the narrative is told through the beautiful, clever watercolour illustrations, which become clearer as the fog lifts, then more obscure as it descends again. The illustrations are full of action, which will engage young readers and hold their attention as they figure out what is happening on each spread.

Frog’s Tale would be a fun read-aloud book, perfect for developing early literacy skills in toddlers and preschoolers.