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Too Many Frogs!

by John Hassett
Too Many Frogs! by Ann and John Hassett; illus. by John Hassett Primary Houghton 32 pp. 7/11 978-0-547-36299-1 $16.99 g
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Nana Quimby, round and bespectacled, is baking a cake—and no sooner has the plumber de-flooded the cellar than frogs emerge…first ten, then twenty, thirty (count 'em), and finally a million frogs (well, there weren't actually millions of cats, either). But never fear. For each escalation, children playing outside have a solution: put them in a goldfish bowl, put them in cups of water, put them in pots and pans. Ultimately? Re-flood the cellar, of course. As for Nana Quimby herself, when last seen she's sitting on the cellar steps eating a piece of the cake while the frogs swim about in the water below. Not far below: in a characteristic Hassett touch, she sits with her feet in the water. Delicious to look at—with its explosion of acrobatic frogs, its primitivist-detail décor, its confectionery colors—and a treat to listen to (thump-thump-bang)…in company with Mouse in the House (rev. 5/04). BARBARA BADER
PreS-K—Nana Quimby's cellar is filled with water. The paperboy suggests calling a plumber, who gets rid of the water, but that's just the beginning of the woman's problems. As she tries to make a cake, she is interrupted again and again by growing numbers of frogs coming up from the basement in search of water. The neighborhood children offer ideas for places to put them, and soon her cups, pots and pans, washing machine, sink, and bathtub are filled with the little critters. In the end, Nana Quimby realizes that a cellar filled with water is a perfect place for a million frogs, and not a bad place to soak one's feet and enjoy a nice piece of cake on a warm summer day. This is the third nonsensical tale featuring the nonplussed, sneakered white-haired lady with nose-pinching round eyeglasses, and it's the most fun. Children can count the frogs in the colorful acrylic cartoon illustrations—first 10, then 20, 30, 40, 50,…100! They will also enjoy the zany antics of the youngsters outside Nana's window and the woman's growing comfort with the frogs that have invaded her tall skinny brick house. Quirky fun—especially suited for one-on-one sharing.—Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
No sooner has the plumber de-flooded Nana Quimby's cellar than frogs emerge...first ten, then twenty, thirty (count 'em), and more. For each escalation, children playing outside have a solution (e.g., put them in a goldfish bowl). The ultimate answer? Re-flood the cellar. Delicious to look at--with its explosion of acrobatic frogs, primitivist-detail décor, and confectionery colors--and a treat to listen to.
Reviewed by Susan Scheps , Jul 01, 2011

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