One Tiny Treefrog: A Countdown to Survival

Illustrator: Tony Piedra, Mackenzie Joy

Binding: Hardcover

Imprint: Walker Books

Age 4+

Picture Books Wildlife

The red-eyed treefrog of the Costa Rican rain forest stars in this bold and visually arresting countdown book, which is both a captivating read-aloud and a resource.

Deep in the tropical forest of Costa Rica, ten sticky frog eggs cling to a leaf. Only nine eggs hatch. Only eight tadpoles wind up in the water below. What will it take to survive the countdown to adulthood and begin the cycle again? This beautifully designed, color-drenched introduction to frog metamorphosis peeks at this animal’s habitats and predators as it illustrates competition and natural selection. Cocreators Mackenzie Joy and Tony Piedra have crafted a dazzling spin on the life of one of nature’s darlings, the red-eyed treefrog. Back matter invites budding naturalists to discover even more treefrog facts, revisit the pages to spot other Costa Rican species, and check out a bibliography.

Creators

Mackenzie Joy, as an artist, loves to scribble and paint on nontraditional canvases. As a writer, she enjoys finding the perfect rhythms, sounds, and words. As a storyteller, she wants to share stories that are quirky, hopeful, and thought-provoking. Mackenzie Joy lives in northern California.

Tony Piedra grew up in Houston, Texas, chasing lizards in the backyard and capturing great adventures in his sketchbook. Eventually, he relocated to California, where he worked for many years at Pixar Animation Studios, building environments for some of the studio’s most popular movies, including Up and Coco. He is the creator of The Greatest Adventure, his debut picture book, and lives in northern California.

Reviews

Explore frog metamorphosis as never before!

Armadillo Magazine

A unique work of non-fiction for Early Years.

CLPE’s February's New Books Round-Up, CLPE

A stunning, bold mix of fact and fiction […] What appears on the surface to be a fairly simple picture book, is in reality a pleasantly multi-faceted text and would be an excellent addition to any Key Stage 1 library.

The School Librarian

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