Frog needs to practice if he wants to win the town obstacle race. But every time he tries, he gets interrupted! Frog can't help his friends and still make time to practice... or can he? Join Frog as he navigates the balancing act of making time for yourself when others need your attention. With the support of Frog’s family and friends, he works through three tricky situations and learns that sometimes, through helping others, you end up helping yourself.
When Frogathan Spots finds out his neighborhood, Harmony Lane, is holding a neighborhood fair, including an obstacle course, he intends to practice every day leading up to the event. He finds it more difficult than anticipated with friends’ requests for help popping up again and again. In this playful and charming read, Frog learns not only that practice may not look how we imagine, but also that prioritizing ourselves is just as important as supporting friends. Ready…Set…Frog! is a humorous yet heartfelt reminder to determined children (and their caregivers) that balance and boundaries can be found amidst interruptions with a little bit of self-awareness.That simple premise allows for multiple opportunities to show what real-life obstacles might occur when one has a goal, and the repetition just reinforces that each interruption is an opportunity to practice, and once comfortable, it can be an opportunity to practice enacting boundaries. Laura Watson’s bright pastel digital illustrations enhance the friendly and jubilant atmosphere, especially with Frog’s facial expressions, which add to the humor. Especially appreciated is the moment where Frog’s mom admits she’s also working on prioritizing time for herself, a humanizing moment that reminds parents honesty and modeling behavior are valuable tools in their arsenal.
Full of heart and hijinx, Ready…Set…Frog! provides a gentle and easy to follow example of how being off-track can still be beneficial, and nudges children and their caregivers alike to make time for themselves amidst helping others. Frog is friendly and caring, even when he wants to be practicing for the obstacle course, but the balance between helping others and helping yourself is so well handled that Frog’s frustrations feel relatable yet still reminds readers to practice boundary setting. Whether child or adult, there’s compassion and guidance to be found in Frog’s journey to winning the obstacle course.
Takeaway: An ambitious frog learns to balance goals, friendship, and personal time.
Comparable Titles: Lita Judge’s Flight School, Basak Agaoglu’s The Almost Impossible Thing.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
