Learning From Picture Books - By Mouse and Frog

I've seen this book featured a few times on other blogs, so I decided I had to read it for myself. I'm really glad I did! This would be a great addition to a classroom or school library collection.

Here’s the summary from Amazon:

A spritely read-aloud about the challenges—and joys—of collaboration.

Fastidious Mouse has one idea about how to tell a story. Free-spirited Frog has another. What happens when Frog crashes into Mouse's story with some wild ideas? Chaos!...followed by the discovery that working together means being willing to compromise—and that listening to one another can lead to the most beautiful stories of all.

In her best book yet, the visionary creator of Blue Chicken and The Story of Fish and Snail has crafted another subtle, clever book-about-books that's also a delightfully entertaining story featuring adorable characters who will win readers' hearts.

By Mouse and Frog by Deborah Freedman was published by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group, in 2015.

My thoughts as a writer:

This is a good picture book for studying characterization. The personalities of Frog and Mouse are so clear, right from the beginning. I liked how the illustrator played with the “real” and “imagined” to create images that are lively and full of fun.

My thoughts as a teacher:

I am going to read this book to my kindergarten students to show them about cooperation! I really liked the subtle way Frog changes and starts asking Mouse about what they should do. A great discussion point for students.

Themes: cooperation, friendship, story writing

Ages: 4 – 8

Grades: K - 3

Follow-Up Activities:

- work with a partner to draw and write your own story

- talk about beginning, middle and ending of a story

- discuss the ways that Frog and Mouse's friendship changes through the story

- make frog and mouse puppets to act out the story

If you're looking for more great picture books to read to your class or to investigate as a writer, consider checking out the list of Perfect Picture Books, put together by author Susanna Leonard Hill.