Pondlarker - Hardcover

Fred Gwynne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0671708465 ISBN 13: 9780671708467

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1990

Synopsis

Not satisfied being a frog, Pondlarker seeks a princess' kiss to fulfill his princely ambitions

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

Given Gwynne's ( A Chocolate Moose for Dinner ; The King Who Rained ) wacky, kid-pleasing sense of humor, it comes as no surprise that his upside-down retelling of The Frog Prince is extremely funny. The eponymous young frog has grown up listening to his parents tell the legend of the frog prince. Now an urbane, adult frog, Pondlarker fancies himself poised on the brink of metamorphosis. Lacking a princess (but dressed for the part--with sword, stick, cape and fancy feathered hat) he goes off to search for one. After several deeds of derring-do on the road (which is helpfully marked "Princess 4 Miles"), Pondlarker finds a princess who has kissed innumerable frogs but has never found a swain good enough for her. "Even if it turns out that you aren't my Prince Charming, at least there'll be one less slimy frog in the world," she tells him. But Pondlarker then decides he's quite happy being a frog. Sumptuously detailed watercolors are imbued with a stateliness appropriate to the grandeur of Gwynne's tongue-in-cheek gravity. Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 1-3-- Pondlarker is the only frog in his family who still believes the old bedtime story his mother used to tell him, and he is determined to be turned into a prince by the kiss of a princess. When he sees a sign that says "Princess 4 miles," he goes off with great alacrity, only to find an old princess who has kissed millions of frogs and still hasn't found a prince who suits her. Just in time, Pondlarker decides that his parents are right: a frog is a fine thing to be. Gwynne's bold, garish cartoons are just right: members of royalty have insipidlooks on their faces, the frogs are having an exuberantly active and happy life together, and Pondlarker stands apart in his ridiculously hopeful prince outfit. This would be fun to read in conjunction with the original folktale to children who are just beginning to delight in the humor of spoof. --Carolyn Jenks, Oyster River Elementary School, Durham, NH
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0671708465
• ISBN 13: 9780671708467
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32