Ribbit! by Rodrigo Folqueira - ESSENTIAL

Folgueira, Rodrigo  Ribbit!  Illustrated by Poly Bernatene  Alfred A. Knopf, 2012.  PICTURE BOOK  $15.99  Content: G. 

One morning a family of frogs is shocked to see a pig sitting on a rock in the middle of their pond.  When they ask the pig how they can help him, he responds with one sound, “Ribbit”.  The frogs don’t know if the pig is making fun of them or what is going on, and all the animals in the forest come to look at the pig who thinks it’s a frog.  Eventually the frogs seek the help of the wise beetle, who informs the woodland animals and the frogs that maybe the pig is just trying to make friends.  When the animals return to the pond the pig is gone, but they soon find him in a nearby tree and his new sound is “Tweet”.  The birds quickly accept him and now he has a tree full of bird friends as well as woodland animals and frogs who realized their mistake. 

This is an adorable book about friendship and accepting others.  The illustrations are super cute and colorful making the book essential instead of just advisable.  This would be a great addition for preschool and kindergarten level libraries. 

 PREK, EL (K-3)-ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.