Toad Weather

K-Gr 2—It's a rainy March afternoon with end-of-the-day, gray light when Ally and her grandmother are surprised by Mama, who excitedly bursts through the door. Encouraged to join her in the "nearly-nighttime," the three move quickly through cold rain, searching the streets for a special surprise promised by Mama. A sound like tiny whistles gets louder and louder through the "drippy, slowing-down rain" before they turn the corner and spot a sign: TOAD DETOUR. For only a few weeks each spring in the Roxborough neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA, the toads head to ponds and a nearby reservoir to mate and lay eggs. Photo-realistic illustrations in pastel and pencil on watercolor paper capture a unique experience on full pages and spreads as residents gather to assist the yearly migration of hundreds of toads moving with determination toward water. Faces express the wonder of walking through "the dripping, freshly-washed, after-the-toad-weather city," and an author's note clarifies the scientific details.