Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Unlikely friends play pretend in straightforward story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Elephant's pretty worried. Here's his friend Piggie, hopping all over the place shouting, "Ribbit! ribbit!" and insisting he's really a frog. What if Elephant becomes a frog, too? When Piggie stops his hopping long enough to explain his game of pretend, he wants Elephant to start shouting, "Ribbit!" along with him. But Elephant has his own ideas.
Is It Any Good?
This doesn't have the creative oomph of Let's Go for a Drive! or the wonderful cleverness of We Are in a Book, but there's no denying the fun of reading your kids a new-to-them Elephant & Piggie book. Expect more high-energy entertainment: hopping, more hopping, nervous pachyderm sweating, and quite a spirited round of "No, I can't!" and "Yes, you can!" All of Piggie's exaggerated enthusiasm in I'm a Frog makes a joyous contrast to Elephant's equally exaggerated worry. And, as always, there's a nice surprise at the end: Elephant will join in Piggie's game -- but in his own way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about pretending. What do you like to pretend to be? An animal or a person with a special job, such as a firefighter? Piggie mentions that yes, grown-ups pretend, too. Parents -- is this true?
Which Elephant & Piggie book is your favorite? Why?
Did you guess the ending? Why can't Gerald be a frog? Do you like to play what your friends play or put in your own ideas?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Mo Willems
- Genre : For Beginning Readers
- Topics : Friendship , Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : October 15, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 64
- Available on : Hardback
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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