What Can Frogs Tell Us about Our Planet? Discover the Science behind Herpetology

WHAT CAN FROGS TELL US ABOUT OUR PLANET? is an intriguing picture book about frogs/toads and why people study them. Frogs live in a lot of different climates, and as they are particularly sensitive to changes in the environment, their study can teach us about climate change and pollution. The book takes a high-level approach to these issues with helpful backmatter that gives additional context and information.

What I loved: This is a really approachable book, great for young elementary school readers who will appreciate the simple language and high-level information. Each page features a couple sentences about frogs, focusing on the impacts on climate change and their environment, giving a birds-eye view into why they are studied around the globe. The book also includes a few examples of frogs that have adapted to their environment and how. Backmatter includes some cool frog facts and a glossary of key terms.

The illustrations are full of detail and capture the topic of each page well, depicting frogs as described by the text. Large, clear font is helpful for independent readers who may want to read this on their own.

What left me wanting more: The book stays very high-level, which may not be enough information for curious children. As another small thing, the pages do not always connect from one thought to the next, so it sometimes feels like something/connections are missing.

Final verdict: WHAT CAN FROGS TELL US ABOUT OUR PLANET? is an interesting look into the world of herpetology and why frogs are so important! Curious young readers will enjoy this illustrated book of basic information.

The young learner's guide to frogs, explored through the lens of how these animals are sensitive to environmental changes and how people can use this information to be better caretakers of our planet. The focus on ecological awareness touches on the dangers of pollution, indicators of climate change (fun fact - some frogs can freeze themselves), the role frogs play in food chains, and the direct benefit of frogs for humans through various medicines.

I enjoyed the full color pages (unexpected for a non-fiction book) and variety of information. The level of detail is just enough to inspire curiosity, and I look forward to researching some of the topics further.

A glossary and pronunciation guide at the back make this information rich guide friendly for beginning readers, as well as a visual dictionary of frogs which includes some common and extraordinary species (smallest! or very poisonous!). Other features include a link to online teacher/parent supplementary materials and resources for further learning.