NATTERJACK TOAD MAKES A MIGHTY CRUNCH

A toad desperately wants to munch on some cookies, but lurking predators keep foiling his plans.

Natterjack Toad, clad in pinstriped shorts with a picnic basket swinging on his arm, is off to find the perfect place to eat his favorite snack: “CHOCOLATE-CHUNK CRUNCHY-MUNCH COOKIES.” They are delicious and have a satisfyingly mighty crunch. He finds a spot near the lake and snuggles into a hammock before reaching for a cookie. Paneled illustrations ramp up the suspense as he slowly lifts the treat to his lips, frame by frame. But suddenly he notices a nearby heron. Natterjack Toad can’t make any noise, or he’ll end up as the heron’s lunch. He slips away, “quickety-whip.” Alas, Natterjack Toad can’t find the perfect spot; predators lurk everywhere he goes. Finally, against the warnings of a frightened mole and vole, Toad, unable to take it anymore, bites into his treat, making a big CRUNCH. A comically large hog lumbers out of the forest; it’s now her turn for a snack. The slapstick switcheroo finale is sure to elicit giggles—and sighs of relief. Three insect pals (a firefly, a dragonfly, and a beret-wearing worm) are fun to spot on the pages as the drama unfolds. At turns both lyrical and silly, this read-aloud, originally published in the U.K., is a delight.

A humorous look at impulse control.