The story of the first three years in the life of a toad is told in the simple text and excellent illustrations of this unusual book. We see Bufo as a tadpole and as a tiny toad struggling to stay alive on land. We see him finally as a full-grown toad, but before then he has had narrow escapes from many enemies-a catfish, a swooping screech owl, a garter snake, a skunk. Whether he is shown clinging to weeds in the pond or hopping across the meadow, Bufo seems alive in these pictures, with his eyes blinking and bulging and his tongue darting out after insects.
Mr. McClung has written and illustrated many fine nature picture books. The beautifully designed drawings on every page, many in color, make this one especially outstanding.
—from the dust jacket
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