Froggy Goes To School

Written by Jonathan London

Narrated by John McDonough

Froggy’s mother knows that everyone’s nervous on the first day of school. “Not me!” says Froggy, and together they leapfrog to the bus stop—flop flop flop. Froggy’s exuberant antics will delight his many fans and reassure them that school can be fun.

 

"This is a great read-aloud with sounds and words that encourage active participation. … A charming story to calm those pre-school jitters."—School Library Journal

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781470356071

Jonathan London

Jonathan London has written more than one hundred picture books for children, many of them about wildlife, including Eyes of Gray Wolf, The Seasons of Little Wolf, Little Puffin's First Flight, and Pup the Sea Otter. He has sold more than 1.5 million books and is known in particular for his Froggy series. He lives with his wife in northern California.

Reviews for Froggy Goes To School

[awoodham93 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Froggy has been playing hard all day, and is very tired. But, as soon as his mother says it is time for bed he is suddenly not tired anymore! Froggy thinks of many ways to postpone bedtime. He takes a bath, eats a snack, gets a drink of water, and asks his mom to read him a bedtime story. Froggy's mom is getting sleepy herself, but sits down to read Froggy a bedtime story. As Froggy's mom is reading, she falls asleep in the chair. Froggy kisses his mom goodnight, and finally falls asleep.

[kghaemmaghami · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a good book to read to kids who are fearful about school. It shows that some kids like Froggy, don't know what school will be like and it could help take a little of the fear away. Chicken, airplane, soldier, is the way swimming was taught to my kids so this could help kids relate to this book. The understanding that it is hard to pay attention is also a way kids can relate to this story. Many kids can relate to the ideas expressed in this story. It could be used to teach kids how to write a story about something they feared until they experienced it first hand and how their expectations were different from their experience.

[sdeshotel-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story is about a frog who is not afraid about the first day of school, and enjoys telling his classmates what he did over the summer. The story would be perfect to read to little ones the night before their first day or on their first day. Kids love listening to the story and enjoying reading along.

[samanthathompson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this story because of the onomatopoeia. For many of the characters’ moves and actions there was a sound associated. It made the book more enjoyable to read because there was a sound attached with an action. Onomatopoeia served as transitions, as in the example “Then he flopped into the kitchen—flop flop flop.” The words that describe sounds are used to move from one event to the next. The action was accompanied by pictures and it helped the story to flow on to the next statement. Onomatopoeia is fun to read but it also helps create the imagery of the scene. When the reader can hear what is happening, the image in their head becomes stronger and comprehension can be increased.
I felt that London did an excellent job seeing school through a child’s eyes, from the beginning when he had a nightmare about being in his underwear, to the conclusion with Froggy running off the bus to tell his parents about the principle. Children often have nightmares about something if they are anxious, so the fact that Froggy had a nightmare about school showed his true anxieties. However, once he was actually at school Froggy was able to experience so many wonderful things. I thought it added humor to the story that Froggy got very nervous that he would get in trouble when the principal enters the room, only to have Mr. Mugwort join in on the swimming lesson Froggy was giving the class. Principals are often portrayed as scary and mean, but this book showed a silly and down to earth principal who wants to connect with the students. I was surprised after reading that part of this story and found it a refreshing change of perspective. When Froggy gets off the bus and can’t wait to tell his parents about how he taught Mr. Mugwort to swim, I also chuckled because it was exactly what a child would do. Children are often so surprised when adults at school act silly with them, especially the principal. London showed school through the mind of a six year old remarkably well from the language style down to the emotions.
The main message in this story was that the first day of school can be an exciting and fun occasion, even if at first it seems scary. Froggy might not have wanted to go to school, but once he did many interesting things happened throughout his day. If he had never gathered the courage to take the first leap and get on the bus, he would have missed out on all the fun activities that school had to offer.

[matthewbloome · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

For the fans of Froggy, this one would meet expectations. Nicely done.

[diamonddog_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is right up there with The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn as one of my favorite back to school books. Froggy is irresistible and sure to relieve first day jitters with grins and giggles.

[waiter22 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Froggy Goes to School written by Jonathan London and illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. This book is about Froggy and starts the reader off in Froggy’s dream. Froggy dreams that he has gone to school in only his underwear. Then he is awoken by his father and realizes it’s the first day of school. I think using Froggy’s dream is a great introduction to the story. This would be a great mentor text that teachers could use to show students different writing strategies and ways to begin a story. The pictures in this book are wonderful and fill the entire page, there is no white space. There is a lot a lot of onomonapia’s and use of alliteration in the text. Froggy has a great day at school and realizes he was worried for no reason. This is a great text because I’m sure a lot of students have anxiety about school on the first day. Sice the characters, other animals, are so playful and funny in the book the story might help ease children’s worries.

[abconnor1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Froggy had a dream that he was late for school and he caught the bus in his underwear. Then when his father does come and wake him up to get ready for the first day, he gets ready for school and is making all sorts of friends and has to be calmed down by his teacher. The teacher asks what they did last summer and of course Froggy had a story. He had learned how to swim and as he was teaching his class and the principal walked in and joined in! What a great book for the first day of school or right before summer.

[jgabica_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Due to the fact that the main characters are frogs, this is a fantasy book because frogs can't speak like humans. It's a cute book about Froggy's first day at school and how he dreams he goes to school in his underwear, but then wakes up to reality. He ends up having a great first day at school. Media: Oil pastels/water colors

[leshauck · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kindergarten-2nd grade. This book applied only to the younger grades. I might use it for someone who is coming to a new school needing to make new friends.

[t1bclasslibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Froggy’s so nervous about his first day of school that he dreams he goes in his underwear! When he really goes, he’s hyperactive, but the principal joins in on his antics, so he has a great time.