Natterjack Toad Makes a Mighty Crunch

4.5

0.0 (0)

233 0

Write Review Add to favorites

Author(s)

Sean Taylor

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Kathryn Durst

Publisher

Candlewick Press

Genre(s)

Children's Reptile & Amphibian Books

Age Range

Release Date

March 18, 2025

ISBN

978-1536238938

Buy This Book

Will Natterjack Toad ever get to eat his delicious cookies? Or will he become a snack himself?

It’s a perfect day. The sky is blue, the water is sparkling, and Natterjack Toad has a packet of his most-favorite snack: delicious chocolate-chunk crunchy-munch cookies. He can’t wait to dig in. But not so fast! A lanky heron is intruding on his hidey-hole! Natterjack Toad is off, quickety-whip. But every time he tries to eat his cookies, there’s someone in the way—someone on the lookout for a (toady) snack themselves. Kathryn Durst’s comedic illustrations and Sean Taylor’s text, begging to be read aloud, combine for a hilarious, utterly delectable picture book perfect for snack time or anytime.

Editor review

1 review

Crunch and Munch Safely!

April 11, 2025 (Updated: June 30, 2026)

Overall rating

4.5

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

Natterjack Toad has a brand new package of crispy, crunchy, chocolate chunk cookies, and he is trying to find the best environment to enjoy his snack. He sets up his picnic near the pond, but pauses his eating because there is a heron nearby. If the heron hears him, Natterjack Toad will be the snack! He moves to a field, gets cozy, and prepares to nosh, only to spy a weasel skulking around. That also won't work. Finding a spot in the forest, and desperate to consume the crunchy treats, he ignores the pleas of a terrified mole and vole who tell him to stop. THey claim the will be in big trouble if he proceeds, but his desire overwhelms his common sense and he takes a might CRUNCH of the cookie. This, of course draws a forest hog who is prepared to chomp down on all of them! The three flee to a nearby underground lair where they are able to have their feast in safety.

Good Points

The colors in this book are very rich and saturated, which gives a safe and cozy feel to Natterjack Toad's surroundings, even when they aren't as safe as he envisioned!

The poetic cadence of the language would make for a marvelous read along, and listeners will pick up some of the repeated phrases and want to chant those themselves. Natterjack Toad's yen for the cookie will speak to many hungry children; it's probably best to have some treats on hand when this is read!

Natterjack toads seem to be native to Europe, while forest boars like the one pictured seemed to have habitats in Eurasia, but that's a small quibble. I also wanted to know the brand of cookies that were SO crunchy that they would alert nearby predators.

Children who are obessessed with frog and toad books like Mack's Frog and Fly will love this one, as will readers who enjoyed books like Birkett's Snack, Please or other humorous picture books.