A very thoughtful amphibian, Frog and his friends are trying to understand life, as they go about their business in and around the pond. Gentle and reflective like Arnold Lobel's Frog & Toad tales, these stories for readers 4 to 8 by the author of the Caldecott Medal winner A Sick Day for Amos McGee find Vernon catching a ride with a snail; trying to teach his timid companions Porcupine and Skunk how to fish; and creating a garden in honor of a departed friend. Philip Stead uses gouache, crayon, charcoal, and chalk pastel to create these sweet animal pals, and he skillfully uses white space to emphasize their emotions and actions.
"Those able to slow their pace sufficiently to experience the compassionate Vernon and his kind-hearted friends will be amply rewarded."—Booklist (starred review)