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Product Description
From Booklist
K-Gr. 2. Welcome to Cementland, "a dull, gray, endless place" of ruined buildings, exposed plumbing, and things in corners that nobody really wants to see. In that gloomy land dwells a special boy who finds a treasure. But it is one thing to find a treasure and quite another to keep it when thieves are around. To protect the loot, the boy (a round-headed, neckless stick figure) builds a creature from wire; wet, smelly socks; and other things at hand. And so is born Frog Belly Rat Bone, and before kids can say "junkyard dog," Cementland is transformed into a garden of Eden. The story is both predictable and a tad didactic, but the art and the design are extraordinary. Ering's combination of hand-lettered text and scribbly, muddy, scratchy pictures looks like a collaboration between Tim Burton and Ralph Steadman (in a good mood). Even better, the book's covers are embossed to offer tactile pleasures that the textured inside art only implies. Children will skim the story, but savor the art. Michael Cart
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Book Description
"Frog Belly plants the idea that with some strategy, good communication, and goodwill, you can grow wonderful things." — PORTLAND PRESS HERALD
Once upon a time, in a gray endless place called Cementland, there lived a boy who wished to find a treasure. After searching through piles of toaster ovens and wet smelly socks, he spies a box filled with specks and a note that says, "Put these wondrous riches in the earth and enjoy." Horrified to learn that thieves are after his treasure, the boy scrounges in the junkyard and conjures a scarecrow-like creature to stand guard: Frog Belly Rat Bone, king and protector of the specks. With subtle tones and bursts of glowing color, Tim Ering’s surreal artwork and hand-lettered text exude all the whimsy of an inspired imagination — and the wonders of a natural world that awaits discovery, even in Cementland.
A NICK JR. FAMILY MAGAZINE Best Book of the Year
A New England Book Show Juvenile Category Winner
A New York Book Show Children’s Trade Hardcover Winner
Once upon a time, in a gray endless place called Cementland, there lived a boy who wished to find a treasure. After searching through piles of toaster ovens and wet smelly socks, he spies a box filled with specks and a note that says, "Put these wondrous riches in the earth and enjoy." Horrified to learn that thieves are after his treasure, the boy scrounges in the junkyard and conjures a scarecrow-like creature to stand guard: Frog Belly Rat Bone, king and protector of the specks. With subtle tones and bursts of glowing color, Tim Ering’s surreal artwork and hand-lettered text exude all the whimsy of an inspired imagination — and the wonders of a natural world that awaits discovery, even in Cementland.
A NICK JR. FAMILY MAGAZINE Best Book of the Year
A New England Book Show Juvenile Category Winner
A New York Book Show Children’s Trade Hardcover Winner
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Nice graphics - but typeface is too dark and hard to read,
By
This review is from: The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone (Hardcover)
I'd give this nice story 4 stars, if it weren't for the fact that the typeface is awfully difficult to read. Even now, after four or five readings with my daughter, I stumble over some words because the text font is almost illegible in places. Added to that problem is the overall dark and gritty background throughout the story that washes out the similarly dark text. They really should have thought about function before form on this book. The graphics are wild and different but be prepared for your child to ask what things are the first few times through. For example, the main character (a little boy) is scarcely discernible as being humanoid. This will require frequent explanations until the child knows from memory what these abstract drawings are. Read this under a good light!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing,
By K M "Malecken" (Grosse Pointe, MI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone (Hardcover)
Intriqued by the illustration, I bought this book for my 4 yr. old son. I am not sure who loves it more.Richly illustrated, this book wraps itself around you and draws you in to a wondrous world. The story is engaging and not 'written down'. A great opportunity for vocabulary expanding. Many teaching moments and a great way to introduce a child to gardening. Most importantly, my son loves it and Frog Belly!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful story with Fabulous Illustrations,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone (Hardcover)
I have never written a review for a book before, regardless of how much I loved it, and yet I feel compelled to let everyone know that I absolutely love this one. I picked it up because of the colorful and creative illustrations and found not only were the pictures great, but the story was the perfect combination of fun, sweetness, and a little bit of life's lessons that are worth learning. My three-year old son loves this book as well and I never find myself tiring of reading it to him.
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