BOOK REVIEW

Pacific Tree Frogs

by Leslie Owen, George Juhasz, illus.

Children’s book editor Leslie Owen has chosen the life cycle of the tiny Pacific tree frog as the subject for her first book. The text begins in a storybook-like way, but after the first couple of pages, the words turn into a detailed non-fiction account of tree frogs on the West Coast. Readers learn about the frog’s life from mating in the spring to hibernating the following fall. The text is well written, and several concepts, such as camouflage and hibernation, are clearly explained. There are many references to native species of plants and other pond animals.

Owen wraps up her book with a discussion on the decline of the tree frog population and encourages readers to help protect tree frogs and their wetland habitats. A series of thumbnail paintings of tree frogs from around the world accompanies these final pages. Although they are named, readers would benefit from knowing which ones are found in their area.

This is also illustrator George Juhasz’s first book. He has created a series of muted, double-page-spread watercolour paintings, intermingled with spot illustrations of specific species on white backgrounds. Unfortunately, the jump from colour to bright white pages disrupts the flow of the text and the picture book feeling. In addition, there is a noticeable inconsistency in Juhasz’s frog illustrations; some of the frogs look decidedly less lifelike than others. His other animals are generally well executed. Labels are provided for the series of predator illustrations, but not for the line-up of insect prey found across the bottom of one page.

Pacific Tree Frogs provides a good overview of the creatures‚ life cycle, and habitat and introduces young people to many concepts dealt with in elementary school science.

Reviewed by Pamela Hickman (from the December 2002 issue)

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