A Boy, A Dog, and A Frog by Mercer Mayer

Mercer Mayer was one of my favorite authors as a child. His critters were always my favorites. This book, like the ones I was familiar with as a child, also incorporates a friendship with animals. In it, a young boy and a dog set out on a journey to capture frogs. They see a big, fat frog sitting atop a lily pad and set off running to catch him in their net. They are unprepared for the playful frog's cunning nature and skill at escaping their grasp. When the boy and his dog finally give up and head for home, the frog joins his new friends.

This story is really a prime example of a tale that can be told without the use of words. The facial expressions of the boy, the dog, and the frog show every emotion, every feeling and thought. Words would only detract from the subtlety of the book and its messages.

A Boy, A Dog, and A Frog is a simple tale about a boy and his adventure with his dog and frog. It is very light-hearted and playful. This book is most appropriate for young children - the plot is simple and the progressions from scene to scene are easy to understand. This book would be great to use with children who are not yet able to read as well as kids who are not confident in their reading skills. Putting a book in their hands can show them that reading can be fun and, perhaps more importantly, that they have the ability to read a book. A teacher can remind them that this book, though it has no words, requires reading skills.