I Don't Want to Be a Frog - by Dev Petty (Hardcover)

About the Book

A frog who yearns to be any animal that's cute and warm discovers that being wet, slimy, and full of bugs has its advantages.

Book Synopsis

A very determined little frog decides he'd rather be anyone--or anything--but himself.

Frog doesn't want to be a slimy, wet frog. He'd much rather be a cat. Or a rabbit. Maybe an owl. But when a hungry wolf arrives--a wolf who HATES eating frogs--Frog suddenly discovers that being himself might not be so bad after all.

With its fast-paced banter between a feisty young frog and his heard-it-all-before father, this laugh-out-loud story captures a familiar childhood impulse: wanting to be anything other than who you are. Young readers will delight in Frog's stubborn schemes, big opinions, and increasingly ridiculous attempts to prove his point--while discovering that sometimes being yourself is pretty great.

And look for the equally funny sequels--I Don't Want to Be Big, There's Nothing to Do!, and I Don't Want to Go to Sleep.

Review Quotes

★ "First-time author Petty's dialogue between a frog father and his son makes its point about accepting one's nature with a big grin. . . . The story might create similar gratitude in the minds of readers--or it might just make them giggle."--Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

"A lively look at self-acceptance."--Kirkus Reviews

"This amusing story ends with a laugh and a much more content frog."--School Library Journal

"Silliness and deadpan humor combine into a hopping good story of being happy with who you are."--Booklist

"A paean to self-acceptance wrapped in snappy dialogue and illustrated with richly colored comic paintings."--Wall Street Journal

"Petty and Boldt provide just enough predictability to hook youngest readers, then deliver a delightful twist or two to create surprise and satisfaction--for both the green hero and the many fans he'll make with this book."--Shelf Awareness

"This lighthearted exploration of identity will delight as a readaloud."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

DEV PETTY is the author of many books for kids, including I Don't Want to Be a Frog, Don't Eat Bees, Don't Trust Cats, and Elmore the Christmas Moose. She lives in Berkeley, California, with her husband, daughters, dogs, a snake named Boots, and two cats.

MIKE BOLDT is a New York Times bestselling children's book creator who lives in Alberta, Canada, with his wife, three children, a dog, and a few cats. His books include I Don't Want to Be a Frog, Elmore the Christmas Moose, Don't Eat Bees, Don't Trust Cats, Find Fergus, Bad Dog, and the New York Times bestseller Just One Bite by Camila Alves McConaughey and Adam Mansbach.