An exuberant frog hunt, full of mud, muck, and wonder, leads to a playful exploration of mindfulness
As rain clouds bloom across the sea and the first stars wink, Sammy and Chocolate tiptoe into the marsh behind their house in search of frogs. They can hear frogs everywhere—croaking, chirping, clucking, burping—but though they poke and peek, wriggle and sneak, they can’t spot even one. It’s only after Sammy and Chocolate stop looking, flop onto the grass, and fade into frogness—no thinking, just being—that frogs come flying. Plink! Plop! Splatter! Splash! Too slippery and fast to catch!
Written in lively, lilting free verse, Frogness invites curiosity and energetic play while also highlighting mindfulness and the hidden rewards of patience. Lush paintings and buoyant language immerse readers in the rich atmosphere of a marsh at sunset. This joyful summer read celebrates being part of nature and soaking up all the sounds and sensory details of our environment, whether we are active or at rest.

SARAH NELSON is a poet, teacher, and the author of several books for young children, including Frogness and the I Like the Weather series. Sarah’s stories and poems explore a variety of themes, but she especially loves writing about nature and often spots book ideas in the parks around her Minnesota home as they hop, honk, or pedal past.

Sarah Nelson's profile page

Née en 1943, près de New York, EUGÉNIE FERNANDES puise son admiration pour les animaux et la nature dans les souvenirs de son enfance. Son inspiration, elle la doit en grande partie à son père, illustrateur de bandes dessinées, avec qui elle passait de longues heures dans son studio. En 1965, elle obtient son diplôme de l'école des Arts Visuels de New York et commence alors sa carrière en tant qu'illustratrice. Eugenie a écrit ou illustré plus de 80 livres dont Grosse journée, petite souris! et Caféolait s'en va-t-en ville. Elle vit aujourd'hui dans le sud de l'Ontario et travaille depuis sa maison dans son studio surplombant un lac et la forêt environnante.

EUGENIE FERNANDES loved exploring the outdoors and making her own little books when she was young. As an adult she has combined these interests by creating books such as Ribbon Rescue, The Tree that Grew to the Moon, Waves in the Bathtub, One More Pet, and Grandpa Dan's Toboggan Ride.

Eugenie is part of a very artistic family. Her father was a comic book illustrator, her husband, Henry Fernandes, is a picture book illustrator who collaborated with her on the book Ordinary Amos and the Amazing Fish, and her two children are also artists. Eugenie lives near Peterborough, Ontario, where she works in a studio that is surrounded by water and woods.

Eugenie Fernandes' profile page

• Short-listed, Florida Literacy Association Children’s Book Awards
• Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens

"This book may inspire some children to adventure outdoors and see what they can see ... A celebration of childhood nature exploring."

Youth Services Book Review

"Full of happy adventure and discovery, with lively storytelling from Sarah Nelson and deeply charming (and adorably frog-filled!) illustrations from Eugenie Fernandes, Frogness is a real delight to explore."

Fab Book Reviews

"Imaginative, delightful, and very froggy."

Kirkus Reviews

"Sarah Nelson tells a cheerful story about the lure of the wild. Eugenie Fernandes' ebullient illustrations are, like the child and dog, bright, messy and happy."

Minnesota Star Tribune

"Sammy tells the story, and fills their tale with sights, sounds and joy. The illustrations add interest and appeal."

Sal's Fiction Addiction