Review of FREAKY FROGS by Bonnie Ogle

So what makes a frog freaky? Does he shoot spit balls at your head? Does he dance the polka? Does he climb a tree like the one on the cover of the book? Does he stick his tongue out at you to make you laugh?

The freaky frogs in Bonnie Ogle’s middle grade novel, FREAKY FROGS, are not funny. This is a pretty serious book, except for all the frog jokes. The main character in the story, Jackson, enjoys the jokes of his neighbor, Doctor Thompson, who is a frog expert.

When Jackson becomes aware of the danger frogs around the world are in, he has questions. He wants to know answers and he wants to know solutions.

How can you tell if a frog is freaky? Some have three legs or five legs. Some have no legs. Some have long tales. There have even been male frogs who laid eggs. Pretty bad, huh?

What causes these unusual things to happen to frogs? The cause is generally something poisonous in their environment. Poisons can come from the runoff of farms and ranches into rivers and other water sources where frogs live. Toxic substances come from chemicals from factories, mines, and oil wells. UV rays from the sun can be deadly because of the depletion of ozone in the atmosphere. Jackson’s classmates learn the importance of wearing sunglasses, but the poor frogs don’t have sunglasses.

Is anybody doing anything to help the frogs’ dire situation? Doctor Thomson and a group of college students study and monitor frogs. Jackson and his friend, Raina, get in on the survey. Fortunately, the teacher is so impressed with the enthusiasm of his class that he encourages everyone to get in on saving frogs. Jackson becomes so absorbed in freaky frogs that he wants to become a herpetologist (a zoologist who specializes in reptiles and amphibians).

This is a good book to introduce youngsters to the Natural World. It also has its fun moments. They will also enjoy the relationship between Jackson and Raina, and be surprised at some of the other characters. Young readers will realize that even though they are young, they are capable of helping the environment.

Saving frogs is an important thing that all of us can get involved in.

I bought my copy of FREAKY FROGS from Ms. Ogle at a book festival.