999 Frogs Wake Up

by Ken Kimura, Yasunari Murakami (Illustrator)

Overview

"...this book is a gift to the youngest readers, who should thoroughly enjoy it." - Publishers Weekly

Wake up—it’s springtime in the swamp! As 999 young frogs awaken, they panic to find that all of the other animals are still asleep. First they wake the biggest frog... then the tortoise, the lizard, and the ladybugs. But when they hop down a hole and all pull together, they find someone they don’t want to wake—a big, long snake. Don’t wake him up! Luckily for the frogs, the tortoise carefully carries him away.

Ken Kimura and Yasunari Murakami are back again in this delightful tale about frogs and friendship!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735841086
Publisher:	NorthSouth Books
Publication date:	01/01/2013
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ken Kimura was born in Tottori Prefecture, Japan. In addition to writing children’s books, he makes handmade children’s toys. Mr. Kimura lives in Japan.

Yasunari Murakami was born in Japan in 1955. In addition to illustrating children’s books, he also likes to devote himself to nature depictions. His works have received awards including the Bologna Graphic Award and the Japanese Picture Book Award.

Editorial Reviews

A sweet animal story for young readers, 999 Frogs Wake Up is cartoonish and carefree and age-appropriately anthropomorphic…As with its predecessor [999 Tadpoles]…the strong point of this book is its eye-popping design.

The New York Times - Pamela Paul

This Japanese import is an excellent storytime choice.

Kirkus Reviews

"A sweet animal story for young readers, “999 Frogs Wake Up” is cartoonish and carefree and age-appropriately anthropomorphic."

New York Times Book Review

"Free of irony and full of innocent, even clichéd, wonder at the beauties of spring (“I always oversleep and miss seeing the flowers, but this year I am awake on time. Thank you!” says the turtle), this book is a gift to the youngest readers, who should thoroughly enjoy it."

Publishers Weekly

"Although it’s fiction, I could see 999 Frogs Wake Up working well for introducing nonfiction concepts. The story provides a number of jump off points for exploration on hibernation, habitats, ecosystems, life cycles, and more. It also ranks high the on the read aloud meter. An all-around good book to have on hand."

100 Scope Notes, School Library Journal - Travis Jonker

"To speak of an insanely gorgeous book about frogs would seem to pose a contradiction in terms...yet here they [it] is: the strong point of this book is its eye-popping design. Once again, a teeming multitude of primitive yet curiously expressive frogs are scattered on a stark white background to very pleasing effect."- New York Times Book Review

New York Times Book Review - Pamela Paul

 "Murakami’s impish, toy-bright illustrations look — almost — as if a talented 4-year-old might have painted them. In contrast to Hello Kitty-style Japanese Neo-Pop, they have a distinctly, even stubbornly, handmade feel. Besides setting the stage for outlandish fun, the message they convey is unmistakable: Nothing in these pages is not for children. The result is an uncommon picture book designed not only to entertain young people but also to give them their due." The New York Times Book Review

From the Publisher

"Murakami’s big-eyed, kelly-green amphibians, set against large white backdrops, are just as cute now as they were as newborns, and their heedless groupthink as they race around being gee-whiz about everything remains downright adorable."- Daniel Kraus, Booklist

Booklist - Daniel Kraus

The froglets who once were 999 Tadpoles (2011) wake from hibernation for an eventful spring. First, big brother oversleeps. Then, the band of brothers and sisters set out to wake others to enjoy the season and the cherry blossoms. They rouse turtle, then lizard and then a mass of ladybugs. But, oh-oh, the next creature is a big red snake. This sequel is just as child friendly as its predecessor--simple and satisfying. Artful page turns add suspense even before the scary snake wakes up. The story moves along briskly, carried in dialogue as well as narrative. Mother Frog saves the day, and the turtle, grateful at being awoken in time for spring, removes the threat. Murakami's yellow-eyed frogs are surprisingly expressive. Gray-spotted shapes of green against a clean white background, they bounce across the pages, sometimes standing around in a group and sometimes scurrying off. When big brother recognizes the snake, his little pink mouth widens into a terrified grimace. Brown Mother Frog is different in color and size. Big brother is larger, too. The other 998 are largely indistinguishable. Murakami's landscape is only suggested; the imagination supplies the details. Like its predecessor, this Japanese import is an excellent storytime choice. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews