The Frog Prince Continued by: Jon Scieszka

Book Genre: Fiction, Folklore, Fairy Tale

Publishing Info: Puffin Books (32 pages)

Awards or Honors:

Summary: This is a hilarious spin off of The Frog Prince. Where it ends, this story begins. Surprisingly the Princess and the Frog Prince do NOT live happily ever after. He whines because the Princess won't go outside and down to the pond any longer. She complains because he sticks his tongue out, jumps on the furniture, croaks in his sleep, and has lily pads in his pockets. Sad and wishing for a real happily ever after, the Frog Prince runs off into the forest in search of a witch to turn him back into a frog. He happens upon several witches: Malificent (Sleeping Beauty), Grimhilda (Snow White), and Gretchen (Hansel and Gretel). Each time he runs off in fear because they do not want to help, just harm him. He eventually happens upon Fairy Godmother (Cinderella). She agrees to help him, but ends up turning him into a carriage. He spends the rest of the evening scared and longing to be back in his castle with his Princess. He realizes that he was happily ever after and didn't know it. As fate would have it, and just as in Cinderella, at the stroke of midnight the Frog Prince turns back into himself. Once he is himself, the Frog Prince runs back through the forest to his castle. When he arrives the Princess bombards him with questions about where he has been because she has been worried. The Frog Prince is so happy to be home he quickly gives her a kiss. And wouldn't you know, they both turn into frogs and live happily ever after! Or do they?

Personal Rating & Reason: ****Great! I love it! It was so comical and had cute ties into other fairy tales. I also liked the illustrations. Each illustration really made the story come to life. For example, when she is complaining about sticking his tongue out, you can see him trying to catch a dragonfly on the wallpaper with his tongue. Plus, Grimhilda is inside a room labeled "Fairest" reading Hague (a witch magazine) getting her hair done. Funny!

Reading Level: K-3 (3.6 AR)

Reading Interest: ages 4-8 years

Possible Uses: I would use this book in many ways.
Art: You could help the children make a frog from paper plates, construction paper, and google eyes. You could also have them make puppets out of construction paper and paper bags. Make masks out of paper plates and string/crafts sticks.

Writing/Arts: This would be a GREAT book to do a readers theatre with. As as class you could transfer the book to a play. Giving students parts - Frog Prince, Princess, each witch (3), Fairy Godmother, Narrator, and of course costume designers. I wouldn't to too much with costumes. Maybe just paper plate masks held up by craft sticks. Each student would have a task in order to bring it all together in the end. Finally I would invite administration or other classes in for a final performance.

Science: At this time I would lead the children into a discussion about the life cycle of a frog. We could do Flow Maps of the cycle and then write about it. Another idea would be to bring in some tadpoles and watch them grow into frogs. Have the children chart the tadpole/frog progress and keep journals about the progressions.

Potential Problems: The only problem, well not problem, but side note is that the humor is very satirical and a little over younger children's understanding. To fully "get" the humor students would need to be 3rd grade and up.