Perfect Picture Book Friday: Bullfrog Pops!

Posted on by Penny Parker Klostermann

Bullfrog pops

Bullfrog Pops!

Written by Rick Walton

Illustrated by Chris McCallister

Gibbs Smith 2011

Age Range: 4 – 8 years

Themes: Frogs, Language Arts

Synopsis: (from author’s website) From the author of the “hopaway” hit Once There Was a Bull…(frog) (my review of Once There was a Bull…(frog)) comes this tale of mouth-watering proportions!
Last seen hopping a … stagecoach and finding his hop, our hero is now on an eye-popping eating binge trying to cure his insatiable appetite.
Woven through the western town of Ravenous Gulch, the story leaves a cast of many hopping mad. However, just as things look bleak, transitive and intransitive verbs turn the tables, taking Bullfrog on another adventure.
As Bullfrog’s appetite and waistline grow, the townsfolk can’t help but gather … food for Bullfrog.
Will Bullfrog hang…
those pictures back up?
Will Bullfrog pop…?
Only Rick Walton and Chris McAllister will tell as their expertly crafted tale unfolds…
(or should we say, pops?)

Opening: (page turns at elipses) Once there was a bullfrog who hopped…
…a stagecoach and rode far away. After many miles, he came to the town or Ravenous Gulch. Bullfrog was hot. He was dirty. He had not showered in many days. And he smelled…
…PIZZA!

Resources: Bullfrog Pops! is all about verbs, and Rick Walton has excellent extension activities on his website. Find ten suggestions HERE. And, HERE is a list of verbs that can be transitive and intransitive. Since Bullfrog ate everything he saw, Rick  has nursery rhymes with food HERE.

Why I Like This Book: This is the third Rick Walton book I have reviewed. Wordplay is one of my favorite things, and he does a great job with it in his books. His books are a fun additions to language arts curriculum. The book keeps the reader guessing with each page turn, so it is a great read aloud.

Susanna Leonard Hill features Perfect Picture Book Friday on her blog. This is a wonderful resource if you are wondering what books to give as gifts, needing material for a lesson, or just looking for a great book to read. Here is a list of books by category. Each book listed has a link to a review, information about that book, and resources for activities. There is also an alphabetical list.

21 thoughts on “Perfect Picture Book Friday: Bullfrog Pops!”

  2. Oh dear, he does look like he is about to explode! But then I heard “bullfrog pop,” and it made me think of push-pop ice cream. Are the green ones “bullfrog pops?”

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    1. I think kids will enjoy the story alone. But if a teacher uses this book in language arts lessons, it will help with that, too! The resources on his website will give a teacher plenty of ideas.

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