School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2ÄA beginning chapter book that misses the mark. On the hottest day of the summer, Bear goes to the pond and claims it as his own. Frog feels the same way and when he too declares, "Mine," his friends fear for his safety. Bear opens her mouth wide and Frog suddenly disappears. When the other animals ask about Frog, Bear only replies, "Hiccup." Several creatures offer remedies, but Bear's hiccups are finally cured when an impatient young turtle bites her on the nose. Frog pops out whole, the hiccups disappear, and an uneasy peace is restored at the pond. The language is accessible; there is just the right amount of repetition of words and ideas without begin monotonous. Picture clues will also help young readers along. Close-up pen-and-ink watercolor illustrations adequately present the pond and forest animals. Unfortunately, there is a general lack of humor in both the art and text, making the events more humdrum than exciting. Once the bear gets the hiccups, things perk up but by then readers may have lost interest because of the book's slow start. Turtle is the only winner here.ÄMartha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
One hot summer day, stubborn Frog begins an argument with selfish Bear, who declares the pond Mine! Moments later, Frog mysteriously vanishes and Bear suddenly develops the hiccups (Frog later reappears when Bear sneezes). In addition to Frog's confusing disappearance, this overly long easy reader, divided into arbitrary chapters, struggles to maintain momentum. The accompanying illustrations, in muddy browns and greens, provide some humorous touches. From HORN BOOK Fall 1998, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 1^-2. Beginning readers have never had a better selection of simple, high-quality chapter books to help them build their confidence and get them hooked on reading. This Holiday House Reader has large type, an easy vocabulary, and an abundance of illustrations. In the story, the animal characters who appeared in Bauer's Turtle Dreams [BKL Ja 1 & 15 98] return. It seems Bear, grouchy from the heat, wants the forest pond all to himself. After standing up to Bear, Frog disappears. The other animals demand to know what Bear has done with Frog, but every time Bear opens his mouth to speak, he hiccups. The dialogue is witty, and the action is humorously illustrated in watercolor and pen-and-ink. The story will also make a nice read-aloud for younger children. --Lauren Peterson