Matthew Stein

Indispensable. A book not just about how to survive the unsustainable life-style most of industrial civilization has thoughtlessly created, but also about how we got here. And how to (if we can't get out of a world showing signs of depleted resources and toxic overload) not just survive in the world without being so insatiably wasteful and poisoning, but also how to thrive in a people-and-planet-friendly way. There is wisdom in this book. And it just might be part of the canon of a surviving species.… (meer)

Adult Reader Reaction: This is a clever take on (IMHO) the over-written topic of bullying. Yes, Bad Billy is a goon toward the animals, but it his treatment of the Great Cypress Swamp that takes center stage. As a result, the story has more depth for readers.

Pros: Kids and parents alike will keep turning the page to see how this heroic frog and his swamp friends save the day. This is a book that has great layering. You won't get it all from the first reading.

Cons: This is a text-heavy picture book, so it may not appeal to readers who want the story to move faster.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.… (meer)