A Frog Prince

From the Publisher

"A quirky, imaginative look at events from the frog's point of view . . . A wonderful book--wry; touching, funny, and completely satisfying."--School Library Journal, starred review

"Delightful . . . A lively new fairy tale, told with wit and beautifully illustrated in a style that makes the fantastic seem romantically real. Charming."--Kirkus Reviews, pointer

"A find choice to read aloud."--Booklist

School Library Journal

Gr 2 Up-- Please note--this is not The Frog Prince, but rather a quirky, imaginative look at events from the frog's point of view. The hero is not an enchanted prince, however; he's just a ``frog wearing fancy clothes.'' Nevertheless, he is noble and courageous and utterly likable. Heartbroken when he is rejected by the spoiled princess he has loved from afar, the sensitive and sensible hero sets out to find someone who will love him as he is. Bravely, and with cleverness and generosity, he rescues a captive dove from two murderous trolls and saves a small turtle from the pot of a hideous witch. With the help of these two creatures, he eventually finds his princess. They are married with great rejoicing and live happily ever after. Berenzy's telling is sure and straightforward. An underlying humor softens the horrors of the journey and adds a certain piquancy to the Frog's character. His honesty and lack of pretension make readers root for him from the start, but it is the illustrations that will bring them back to re-examine and delight in Berenzy's marvelous creation. Elegant compositon and attention to detail pull the eye into the pictures and reward repeated scrutiny. Several of the pictures are simply breathtaking, conveying an unusual depth of emotion, ranging from inexpressible sadness as the rejected Frog regards himself in a mirror to exultant gratitude as he escapes the witch. Berenzy's palette of deep rich color, alternately gilded with light and cloaked in darkness, displays a magnificent utilization of light and shadow. A wonderful book--wry, touching, funny, and completely satisfying. --Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4--The hero of this neoclassical fairy tale is a veritable prince of a frog--brave, honest, and true. Overcoming great obstacles and depths of despair, he is finally rewarded with his heart's desire. Vivid paintings are rich in detail and illuminated with jewel-like gleam in this sparkling effort. Oct. 1989