Fantastic Frog and the Amazing Tad Lad

Gr 3-5–This action-packed graphic novel throws readers immediately in to the story, as Fantastic Frog and his sidekick Tad Lad battle Hater Gator, but aren’t entirely sure why. In a series of plot beats that will be familiar to video game lovers, the super powered amphibians eventually defeat the robot gator and gain access to an underground headquarters that holds the answers to their questions and their favorite snack: cat kibble. Fantastic Frog and Tad Lad are assigned a mission to save the swamp and set out on a comic and chaotic adventure. Humor abounds, from a running joke about smells to a punny interlude with a dung beetle peddling poots (poo + boots). The book ends with a nod to the next installment in classic comic book fashion. The art also plays with classic comic book tropes: the mentor (Dr. Kim) is mostly seen from frog height (and never shows her face), the dynamic action sequences depicting sequential movements accompanied by onomatopoeias, and the bright color palette with a heavy dose of frog green.