By: Jonathan London Publisher: Puffin Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Puffin Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 32 Publication Date: June 01, 1997 Reading Level: Baby-Preschool
Froggy Helps Children Face a Common Fear Froggy Learns to Swim is a children's book with about 36 illustrated and colorful pages. It is a learning book of sorts, with an important message for youngsters: That getting over fear takes some effort, but it is worth it in the long run, and that everyone shares many of the same anxieties.
Froggy is resistant to learning how to swim. This is something many children who read this book can relate to. There are those children who take to the water right away, but most children experience at least a small amount of uneasiness before they are willing to jump into deep water on their own. Froggy is then assisted by his mother who patiently, but with determination, teaches him how to swim. Her persistence, along with Froggy's security "blankets" (his scuba gear and bathing suit), finally convince Froggy to try swimming on his own. He then discovers- like many children do- that he loves swimming and after all that resistance, he now has no interest in leaving the pond.
I like the way this book includes some of the actual techniques used/learned in teaching children to swim because it helps kids relate. For example, Froggy's mother explains to him that he needs to start by floating on his belly. Then, he needs to practice going under water, releasing air, and then coming up for air. These, and other techniques, are similar to the actual lessons kids receive when they learn how to swim. This makes the story relevant, and those kids who are having issues with swimming will listen attentively.
Another good point about this story is the interaction with the mother. She wants Froggy to overcome his fear, and she sticks with him to the end, demonstrating the different swimming maneuvers and patiently waiting until Froggy is ready to take the plunge. Then, once he has realized how much he loves to swim, she and Froggy's father wait patiently while Froggy enjoys his newfound activity, well into the night. I also like the sound effects in the book. "Splash!", "Bubble, Bubble", "Zap", "Zook", "Toot, Toot, Toot", etc., are some of the many sound effects that add to children's enjoyment.
Overall, Froggy Learns to Swim is a very good children's book full of professional drawings, helpful sound effects, and an important lesson about overcoming anxiety. Froggy shows kids that they are not alone in facing their fears. Even he is afraid of the water. But with a little help from his mother and his favorite accessories, he is able to get over his fear and ends up enjoying himself immensely in the end.
Froggy is so much fun! My son loves the Froggy books. They are just long enough without being too long or too short for a 3 year old. The lessons are simple enough for him to understand as well.
A must have for Froggy fans! What can I say......the Froggy book series are fantastic! Jonathon London writes so well that children can help but enjoy the book. And Frank Remkiewicz is a wonderful illustrator - he makes the books come alive with his drawings of Froggy and the rest of the gang!
I started my daughter on these books when she was about 4 or 5 and she is almost 10 and she still enjoys breaking out her old Froggy books and reading them!
This is the type of book you want you children to read again and again! If you start them on the Froggy series books early they will learn to enjoy the books and other books. The books are tons of fun!
The Kids really enjoy it I and my children found this book helpful when discussing fears and swimming lessons. Not only is the book fun to read (neat sounds, etc.), it has the added bonus of providing two useful teaching tools for beginning swimmers. I have to say that the part where Froggy loses his bathing suit is over done, and really is not necessary to the storey. It conveys embarrasment about nudity when it really isn't necessary. A little skillful editing while reading can minimize this. The bottom line is that I and my son found the book helpful, it is well written, and has enjoyable illustrations.
Froggy & skills mastery I agree with the other reviews that this book is especially splendid in it's illustrations, text and message. Like many young children, Froggy is fearful of the water (and, presumably, other new experiences). However, by taking it at his own pace, and with the encouragement of his mother, he soon masters his skills at swimming (anyone who has or works with young children will empathize with a tired mom & dad frog who are still waiting patiently on into the night as Froggy practices his new learning). While very cute, age appropriate and fun, I have only one criticism: at one point, no doubt for humorous effect, Froggy looses his bathing suit and "turns more red than green." Demanding his parents NOT to look, he skedaddles into the bushes and re-suits. Perhaps I'm reading into this too much, but I would hope that children don't come to devolop negative body issues re: being nude, especially around their own parents (no one else is at the beach with Froggy, Mom & Dad). My only concern is that this might reinforce the unnecessary shameful aspect of nudity that people in this country embrace and that, IMHO, is often one of the issues that lead to negative body image in children in America (why do you think we have so many anorexic/bulimic children here??)
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