Age 04-08. 5 Stars. Of all the easy-reader books in print, this series may be the best in writing quality, complexity, character development, and humor.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. A baby fish and a tadpole in a pond become friends. When the tadpole grows into a frog, he leaves the water to explore the land above. Upon hearing from his friend about this wondrous world above, the fish decides to go see it. But he leaves the water at his peril, only to be rescued just in time by the frog…. the story dramatizes the truth that there are certain laws inherent in the created order, and that to ignore them is dangerous.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. In this book a boy goes to the park with his pet dog and frog, leaves the frog alond to find whatever trouble he can. The frog flicks out his tongue to catch an insect, which turns out to be a bee. He disturbs a young couple’s picnic, sinks a young boy’s toy boat (retrieved by his annoyed mother), and joins a baby in its crib (swiping a sip of its bottle). This is a kind of visual comedy perfect for young children, and simple enough that after a parent helps with interpretation the first time, it may be fully enjoyed alone.

Age 00-04. 2 Stars. In this episode, the boy and his family are going to dinner at a fancy restaurant. The frog stows away in the boy’s pocket, and while the family is ordering jumps out and begins to wreak havoc among the other diners…. His lack of penitence at having caused his family such trouble might be concerning to some parents, and the parental anger is far more concerning… However, this lighthearted fantasy portrays a bit of real human nature, allowing children to think about what different people are feeling in different scenes. It also provides an example of what not to do in a restaurant, and might actually be a means of preparing a young reader for the experience…. This is a funny library checkout but probably shouldn’t live on the free-reading shelf.