Stick

Stick by Steve Breen 2007

Stick the frog has a taste for adventure, and he wants to explore on his own. While attempting to devour lunch one day, his long tongue gets stuck on a dragonfly. He gets lifted off of his lily pad, and sets out for the ride of his life. He avoids near death, lands on many kinds of animals, and surprises passersby in the jazzy city of New Orleans. During his wild ride, he looks slightly dazed, but strangely amused. When he lands on the marina and sees the sun beginning to set, he realizes that he misses home more than he thought he would. A feathered friend gladly returns him home to his mom. But the long journey has made this young frog hungry, which causes Stick to ingest another interesting snack.

Breen’s artwork is a mixture of close-ups, larger action shots, and aerial views. The fun suspense and silliness is rendered in beautiful details. The swamps of New Orleans are wonderfully displayed, and a map of Stick’s journey is on the endpapers.

Appropriate for ages 4-8