BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON

What goes into the song of the swamp?

Frog is discouraged. His voice is too quiet, and singing alone is no fun, but he doesn’t feel sorry for himself. Instead, he leaps over lily pads in search of others to join his song. An ensemble cast assembles, and a cumulative refrain builds as a crocodile adds his drumming and humming; mice contribute more vocals, a flute, and a gong; “fish “[add] their voice to the flow”; and long-legged wading birds sing along. But even with all these performers, something is wrong. That’s when the frog sees “a shy little bug / not adding her song to the night” and encourages her to join in. When she does, “she bizzed and she buzzed to the beat of the swamp, / and she lit up the night like a star.” By this time, it’s clear that “everyone knew that the song of the swamp / needed everyone’s voice to sound best.” The story’s message is explicitly stated but feels like a fitting final thought rather than a lesson to be learned. Boldly colored computer-generated collage illustrations and rhythm and repetition that encourage audience participation will make this a storytime and creative dramatics hit.

Readers will be tempted to sing along as frog creates the song of the swamp.