Beware of the Frog (review)

Don't mess with little old Mrs. Collywobbles: she may look unintimidating, in her sweet little cottage at the edge of the wood, but she's got surprises up her sleeve. That's discovered by a goblin, a troll, and an ogre, who successively approach Mrs. C's cottage with an eye to making a meal of her, or at least stinking her out of her house, only to find that the lady's pet frog puts a quick end to their ambitions by swallowing the intruders right up. Mrs. Collywobbles is very grateful to her helpful frog, but there are a few more surprises in store . . . Bee, author of Whatever (BCCB 12/05), again demonstrates his taste for the consumptive, and young audiences will devour with relish (or without) the story of eaters getting eaten; the double-twist at the end is a little random and it will probably catch even the most suspicious unawares, but they'll adore its complete irreverence. The digital art is a wondrous balance of color and textures; the woods are lacily sinister earth tones, while Mrs. C's yard is a tidy verdant sanctuary for lollipopesque flowers in candy hues, all with graphic flair that marries design with functional illustration. Kids who like their picture-book sagas more tart than sweet (in other words, anybody who liked Willis' Tadpole's Promise, BCCB 7/05) will find this a tasty morsel indeed.