Said Frog: And Other Bedtime Verses for Children

Gwen Keegan -- or Grandma G as she is known to young readers -- has crafted a treasured cache of rhyming poems that leave children with warm feelings, friendships, and self confidence. Starting with her bedtime poem, "Said Frog," Grandma G introduces the character Hippy Hoppy Frog who reaches out of his comfort zone and talks to a squirrel. More than giving salutations, the frog points out a fallen collection of acorns, enabling Squirrel to make acorn bread. Friendship ensues, and the rhyming moral is revealed: “We all must help each other // And call each one our brother. // For if we sit apart, // We will not have a happy heart.” Lavishly illustrated in full color, this book of bedtime verses includes other equally poignant rhymes about the first day of kindergarten, flying kites, and rainy days. Building phonemic awareness and a love of language, "Said Frog," is a delightful bedtime read for grandparents and parents who want to connect their young ones to family ("Baby Brother), nature ("Clouds" and "The River"), household tasks ("Socks") and make-believe ("Tea Party"). While they experience the beauty of the English language, young children will also enjoy single-subject, colorful illustrations that build mind-pictures and memories of a pleasant path to bedtime.