Genre
Classics
Picture books for children
Subject
Frogs
Music history and criticism
Songwriting
Weddings

Picture book (folk songs). This one has a happy ending (nobody gets eaten), Caldecott-winning illustrations, a brief history of the song (interesting and always appreciated) plus sheet music to learn one version of the melody--for another version, try Ruth Crawford Seeger's American Folksongs for Children, which has a much less happy ending. ( )

Folk song about a wedding between Frog and Rat set to illustrations. Could be used in a music class. ( )

I absolutely love the style of illustrations in this book. All of the insect characters are drawn to perfection and have wonderful expressions on their faces. The book is based on an old song that was brought over to the US from Scotland. So basically it is part of oral tradition, it mentions int he book that the song was sung in Appalachia often. It has a shocking end which is illustrated with a giant cat scaring the entire wedding party, which always brings ahhhs and oooo's from the audience. ( )

Based on an old traditional folk song, Ackerman tells the story of a frog who loved a mouse and was intent on marriage. This is a cooperative effort, with everyone bringing something to the celebration. Langstaff researched the tale back some 400 years to the original Scottish song, but relied most heavily on the version sung in various parts of America. The book includes the music notes at the end, so you can plunk it out on the piano (or guitar?) if you’ve never heard it sung.

Feodor Rojankovsky won a Caldecott medal for his illustrations. They are wonderfully detailed; even the tiniest flea is given a fully emotive depiction. ( )