Frog Freakout (8 page)

“You too?” said Danny, in a low voice.

“Yep . . . but it'll wear off soon . . . won't it?” Charlie eased her feet out of the wellies, and the boys glanced down to see the truth beneath the table.

Charlie's feet were still frog-colored and frog-shaped, complete with webbed toes—exactly like Danny's and Josh's.

“Yeah . . .” said Danny, reaching for the toast. “It'll wear off. The aftereffects always do—although they've never been this obvious before.”

Josh grinned. “Yeah . . . don't worry. It'll be fine. No need to get all jumpy.”

BOOKS

Want to brush up on your reptile and amphibian knowledge? Here's a list of books dedicated to slithering and hopping creatures.

Johnson, Jinny.
Animal Planet ™ Wild World: An Encyclopedia of Animals
. Minneapolis: Millbrook Press, 2013.

McCarthy, Colin.
DK Eyewitness Books: Reptile
. New York: DK Publishing, 2012.

Parker, Steve.
DK Eyewitness Books: Pond & River
. New York: DK Publishing, 2011.

WEBSITES

Find out more about nature and wildlife using the websites below.

San Diego Zoo Kids

http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals

Curious to learn more about some of the coolest-looking reptiles and amphibians? This website has lots of information and stunning pictures of some of Earth's most interesting creatures.

National Geographic Kids

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

Go to this website to watch videos and read facts about your favorite reptiles and amphibians.

US Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/amphibians-reptiles-and-fish.aspx

Want some tips to help you look for wildlife in your own neighborhood? Learn how to identify some slimy creatures and some scaly ones as well.

CHECK OUT ALL OF THE
TITLES!

Ali Sparkes grew up in the woods of Hampshire, England. Well—not in the sense that she was raised by foxes after being abandoned as a baby—she had parents, OK? Human parents. But they used to let her run wild in the woods. But not wild as in “grunting and covered in mud and eating raw hedgehog.” Anyway, during her fun days in the woods, she once took home a muddy frog in a bucket, planning to clean it up nicely and keep it as a pet. But her mom made her take it back. The frog agreed with her mom.

Ali now lives in Southampton with her husband and two teenage sons and a very small garden pond, which has never yet attracted any frog spawn or even half a newt. Ali is trying not to take this personally.

Ross Collins's more than eighty picture books and books for young readers have appeared in print around the world. He lives in Scotland and, in his spare time, enjoys leaning backward precariously in his chair.