Picasso, The Green Treefrog

Amanda Graham (author)

John Siaow (illustrator)

Keystone Picture Books, Australia: 1985; 32pp

ISBN: 0947212442

Genres: fantasy, picture book

Issues: identity

Much loved by children, this is a story about a frog who changed colour.

Having experimented with all sorts of ways to change his colour (mud, pools, trees, grass), Picasso, in his travels, accidentally lands in a jelly-bean jar. At first Picasso enjoys being multi-coloured – until he realises that he doesn't change back when he moves back up into his tree. Disaster! Just think what could happen to a patchwork frog! Thoroughly depressed, Picasso returns to the jelly-bean jar and decides he might as well start sampling the sweet that has ruined his life – and he notices something
strange…

This is a delightful story, whimsical and well-paced so that children are keen to turn the page to find out 'what happens next'. There are lovely sound constructions on each page that are made for reading aloud: "He could dive into a deep, cool, pool…"

The illustrations are very appropriate – delicate watercolours that are particularly effective for Picasso's multi-coloured transformation. This is a definite favourite with younger readers, so be prepared to read it again and again and aga…