Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Elmo Freem, star of The Trouble with the Johnsons and Moog-Moog, Space Barber , is back, and in yet another fix. The problem now is a pesky book report that has him in a dither–and sprouting frog feet to boot. With his cat Leon in tow, Elmo is whisked to Frogtown, where Dr. Frank Galoof, author of a book called Frog Medicine (the book report tome, naturally), counsels him regarding his condition, treats him to dinner at a swampy local restaurant and sends him on his way. Although this new tale doesn’t pack as much punch as Moog-Moog , and the plot seems slightly contrived, it’s still a diverting outing. Teague again demonstrates his knack for dealing with the kinds of predicaments that loom large on children’s horizons in a fresh and funny way. His brash, arresting images are enhanced by scrupulous attention to fine points: witness the gradual transformation of Elmo’s surroundings as his metamorphosis begins, such as the lilypad wallpaper that appears in the bathroom when he first discovers his alarming new feet. Ages 6-9.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4– The third of Teague’s Elmo Freem tales takes the boy on a forced march through a book report. While his classmates select all the good titles, Elmo is left with Frog Medicine. The night before the assignment is due, he tries to write the report without reading the book, and falls asleep. The next morning he discovers that he is turning into a frog from the feet up. Seeking a cure from the author of his book, Elmo is assured that the book is not dull, and neither are frogs; back at home he starts to read, finds the story interesting, and is cured. A wildly improbable tale, this volume has allure with its painterly, luminous pictures of a froggy dream world, complete with a taxi floating down the pond-street that is now filled with lily pads. The oddly flat coloring befits the starkness of dreams–no dirt, no clutter, just glaring outlines. A book that will appeal to those who may not like reading but who will enjoy the pictures and be drawn in by them. –Ruth K. MacDonald, Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
Another surreal adventure for Elmo, hero of Moog-Moog, Space Barber (1990). Stuck with a book-report book he’s sure he won’t enjoy–Frog Medicine–Elmo doesn’t even open it. Suddenly, the assignment’s due: “I’ll just make up something,” he decides, but draws a blank. Meanwhile, the froggie details that have been invading Teague’s art burst forth on Elmo’s feet, now green and webbed. After a visit to the book’s author, Dr. Galoof, a frog whose desk and bookcase of medical tomes sit among reeds and lily pads, elicits solid advice (“Just do your homework…You really should read more”), Elmo settles down, finds he enjoys the book after all, and returns to normal–even his feet. Offbeat and wryly amusing, but it’s the illustrations that command attention: the solid, hard-edged forms are alive with energy, with even skyscrapers leaning purposefully; Elmo’s cat acts as a constant observer, by turns anxious, bored, or debonair; every scene is bathed in curiously pure light, with plenty of clever, funny details to discover. (Picture book. 5-10) — Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Mark Teague developed his writing and painting talents without formal training but with a healthy dose of imagination. Each of Teague’s books starts as “notebooks full of sketches and scribbles, strange little drawings, and phrases that seem mostly cryptic that suddenly come together,” he explains. His books tackle everything from first graders coping with life on Mars to Shakespearean characters coping with life on earth. Mischievous dinosaurs, witty dogs, nightmare haircuts, messy rooms, closet monsters – all find their way into Teague’s wildly inventive books. Teague has also collaborated with many critically acclaimed authors, including Jane Yolen, Audrey Wood, and Cynthia Rylant. He lives in upstate New York with his wife and two daughters. For more information about Mark Teague, visit scholastic.com/tradebooks
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