Froggy's Best Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas... and Froggy was snoozing away! Every year he sleeps through the holidays, waking up only when spring arrives. But this year his friend Max the beaver has other plans in store for his amphibious pal. Tossing snowballs at Froggy's window, Max rouses him and gives him his first-ever Christmas present. "Gee, thanks," says Froggy, faintly perplexed. "I always wanted a drawing of a Christmas tree." But it's not a picture Max is giving him, it's the real thing! The two set off to wake Matthew the turtle and Travis the bear from their hibernations. Soon all four are in search of the perfect Christmas tree. All goes well with the selection, transport home, and decoration...until Froggy decides it's time to place the foil star on top. "Timber!" shouts Max. "Thunk!"

Frank Remkiewicz's cheerful illustrations tell this holiday story beautifully, but Jonathan London's animal banter and sound effects ("Zup! Znap! Zat! Zwit! Zum!" as Froggy gets dressed in his snow clothes--long underwear, purple leggings, yellow and green polka-dot shirt, blue boots, and red plaid coat) beg for read-aloud. Children relate, oh how they relate, to Froggy's silly antics and mishaps, as seen in Froggy Goes to School, Froggy Gets Dressed, and loads of others in the perfectly delightful Froggy series. (Ages 3 to 6) --Emilie Coulter