Animals Rule in Children's Literature: Frogs and Caterpillars and Bears - Oh My!
The unique not-quite-human yet not-quite-animal characters in the classic Dr. Seuss tales, paired with allegories about honor and even disarmament, set the stage for the next generation of children's books and entertainment. Endearing creatures from Sesame Street (what is a Snuffleupagus, anyway?) and puppets from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood created a world of make believe that children could call their own.
In children's literature, the story is often secondary to the lavish illustrations. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," for example, wouldn't be nearly as compelling without Eric Carle's illustrations. Likewise, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" is clever, but Felicia Bond's illustrations make the book a children's classic.
Kristin Zambucka's "Frog Knights" and "Frogavia! Frogavia!" are perfect examples of books that consist of both lavish illustrations and compelling tales. In the first book, frog characters live in their own frog world - the big pond known as The Kingdom Of Frogavia. The true frog king is unseated from his ancient throne and banished to a far, distant pond by an evil ruler. As his bullying and tyrannical rule stretch on, the Frogavian people grow increasingly restless and unhappy. Finally, a group of brave young rebels rise up and go in search of their true king. They eventually find him and he dubs them chivalry frog knights in gratitude for their loyalty. The king, along with a frog queen and frog princesses, return to Frogavia and right the wrongs of the evil ruler. In the second book, the story progresses, with one of the chivalry frog knights asking for the frog princess' hand in marriage, but she marries another. The frog knight joins his friends from the first book to continue on their mission to make good triumph over evil.
Zambucka's books are more whimsical than, say, Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series or Tony Abbott's Secrets of Droon series, but capture the magic of childhood while imparting nuggets of wisdom. The whimsy and appeal of the characters is that they come from the animal kingdom.
There's no doubt that creatures are central to today's children's literature. Whether completely imaginary, such as those in "Where the Wild Things Are," or real, as are those in "365 Penguins," or a little of both, as in "Frogavia! Frogavia!", kids are captivated by animals that cause the imagination to soar.
Related Tags: frog, frogavia, frogs, frog characters, frog world, chivalry frog knights, frog princess, frog king
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Guide for Living a Longer Life or Majon's Health and Beauty directory.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Review-who Hates Whom?
Who Hates Whom?, Bob Harris, 2007, ISBN 0307394360Subtitled "Well-Armed Fanatics, Intractable Confli - Spouted Stand Up Pouches -- 5 Questions To Ask Before Ordering
In recent years, stand up pouches have begun to take over retailers' shelves. Virtually every type o - Towards A Gnostic Science
With a foreword by Member Professor Peter Stewart, this magisterial work is a greatly extended versi - Review-operation: Save The Innocent
Operation Save the Innocent, Tony Ruggiero, 2008, ISBN 1896944604Part two of a series, this book is - The Truth About Earth4energy Technologies
With energy prices on the rise, it's no secret that we need to find more alternative energy solution - The World Of Comic Books
Books have been always popular among readers for ages. There is infinite number of books around the - How To Market New Book Reviews, Create Vision Board
Vision boards are not just used for personal manifestation purposes: they are excellent marketing to - Review-on A Hill They Call Capital
On a Hill They Call Capital, Matt Carson, 2007, ISBN 1604028548This novel is about a bunch of regula - Review-who Really Runs The World?
Who Really Runs the World? The War Between Globalization and Democracy, Thom Burnett and Alex Gaines - Review-america Unraveling
America Unraveling, L. Scott Smith, 2008, ISBN 9780977940783This book defends the expression of publ
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Digital Photography eBook Review: Camera Dollars Income System
The "Camera Dollars Income System eBook" written by Brian Moore claims to contain everything you nee - Used Book Stores
Many college bookstores allow students to sell their books back to the stores. These used bookstores - Book Review - Through the Storm by Sha' Givens
Mahogany Malone was named for her mother's favorite dancer, and one may argue that this teenage name - Book Review: Fiasco by Thomas E. Ricks
Among the most illuminating, and hence the most damning recent volume about the war in Iraq is Fiasc - Good Starting Places in the Fantasy Genre
I'm a bit of a hypocrite when it comes to my reading. I will deride and verbally mutilate anything o - A Review on: "An Empire of Wealth"
Part III of the book "An Empire of Wealth", the emerging colossus, is being reviewed in this analysi - Book Review: State of Denial by Bob Woodward
The most recent addition to our understanding of our difficulties in Iraq, State of Denial by Waterg - The Traveler - John Twelve Hawkes Review
There is a time and a place for nearly every style of literature out there. I find myself reading a - Crystals Made Simple: a Review of "The Crystal Handbook"
A few years ago, for research purposes for something I was writing, I was searching for a comprehens - A Review on Chapters 11 and 12 of "A People's History of the United States"
Before starting to take a look at its content, it is necessary to get familiar with the book's autho
