There's Nothing to Do!
(I Don't Want to Be a Frog #3)

The malcontented frog from I Don't Want to Be a Frog and I Don't Want to Be Big is at a loss about what to do with his day. "You can't think of anything?" his father asks, working on a crossword puzzle. "I can think of lots of things... buuuuut I don't want to do any of them," replies the frog, wearing an expression that suggests he can't believe his father would even ask such a question. Friends' suggestions do nothing for the frog ("You should lick between your toes for a while," proposes Cat), who eventually realizes that doing nothing--or at least being present in the moment--can be something in itself. Snappy, spot-on dialogue pairs ideally with the outsize drama of Boldt's artwork; reading this book belongs on families' to-do lists. Ages 3-7. Agent: Jennifer Rofe, Andrea Brown Literary. (Sept.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2-- So what do you do when there is absolutely nothing to do? Nothing. That is the premise behind Petty's latest. The story follows an uneventful day in the life of Frog as he solicits advice from his animal friends, owl and pig, about how he should spend his day. Instead of offering suggestions that are of benefit to Frog, both owl and pig give quirky, self-indulgent advice ranging from sleeping all day to sniffing dirt. Frog soon becomes disenchanted when he realizes that the advice from his friends only prove that they don't have any clues about what he should do, either. Later, Frog has an epiphany and concludes that doing nothing is a great way to spend the day. Although the story attempts to use humor as a vehicle to teach a lesson about boredom, it is only mildly entertaining. Filled with cliches and semi-comedic dialogue, the story lacks any real lessons of value. On the one hand, Frog learns that in doing nothing he can find enlightenment. He then gets the idea that it would be better to do nothing as opposed to going to school. On a positive note, vibrant illustrations do make the book visually appealing, and the use of dialogue boxes make the text easy to read. VERDICT with minor humor and a lackluster story line, this book would add little value to library collections.-- Andrea Jamison, Lincoln Elementary School, Calumet City, IL

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.