Frankenfrog - Softcover

Kennedy, Kim

3.73

41 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0439210313 ISBN 13: 9780439210317

Publisher: Scholastic, 2000

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After accidentally creating a monster fly, a mad scientist is obliged to create an enormous frog to eliminate the pest.

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From Publishers Weekly:

With mixed results, the brother-and-sister team behind Mr. Bumble revisit a B-movie staple. This mock-horror story begins in the lab, where Dr. Franken is whipping up a "hyper-sizing tonic, which worked wonders on lollipops." The tonic has other effects, too: It turns an ordinary insect into "a hideous hyperflyAa droolish, ghoulish creature" that quickly starts "multiflying" into scores of buzzing pests. Dr. Franken, with sparse hair standing on end and eyeballs spiraling madly, giddily invents a solution to his bug problem. He creates a giant amphibian known as Frankenfrog, and the stiff-jointed, algae-green zombie lurches to the swamp, zapping flies with his electrified lightning-yellow tongue. Kim Kennedy challenges some Frankenstein conventions. Although Frankenfrog is not accepted among regular frogs, he wins Dr. Franken's loyalty by destroying the hyperfly. Good riddance, too: Doug Kennedy's chaotic illustrations present a scary, hairy villain with a slavering red tongue, scrawny body and multiple eyes. The monster theme, high-octane palette and goofy gags recall Dav Pilkey's work, but this book's grotesque slapstick doesn't succeed so well as Dogzilla's sillier take on monster myths. Ages 4-7. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-K-A goofy scientist accidentally creates a huge fly. In order to get rid of it, he sends his assistants to "Croaking Acres" to bring back a "frightfully large frog." Back in the lab, he hooks it up to various electrical devices and pulls the switch, bringing Frankenfrog to life. After running away to attend a swamp party and scaring everyone away, the frog monster eats a bunch of fireflies for an energy boost and finally electrocutes the gigantic bug. The writing is forced and self-consciously adolescent ("She opened her slobbering snout for a mouthful..."), and the story comes off as strangely unfunny, considering its premise. The cartoon illustrations are filled with bug-eyed characters, drawn in a frenzied yet flat style. Young readers hungry for mad-scientist or monster stories will be disappointed by this effort. For more satisfying silliness, stick with Dav Pilkey's Dogzilla or Kat Kong (both Harcourt, 1993).
Christine A. Moesch, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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