In jaunty rhyme, a lesson about individuality is hidden beneath the jazzy jogging suit of Finklehopper Frog, as he gets the jogging bug and, once properly clad, tries to join the other animals. Finkle realizes frogs aren't built to jog, but hopping is fine, too. The bright, zany illustrations and rhythmic text help overcome the thinness of the story. From HORN BOOK Fall 2003, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Everyone else is out jogging, Finklehopper Frog notices one morning, and he decides to join in: "I will buy a jogging suit./ I'll get myself a jazzy one,/ a dandy one, a beaut!" As he struggles to transform his hop into a jog, the other animals snicker at his contortions and his eye-popping apparel. "Didja get it at a sale?" sneers Yowlereen, a catty feline jogger. Although hurt, the frog perseveres and befriends a rabbit-a fellow hopper-who praises his suit and his moves: "Keep on doing/ what you always do,/ cause hopping is the way to go,/ the perfect way for you." Except for a peculiarly rhymeless ending, Livingston's rhythms echo Finklehopper's bounce and blithe spirit, and encourage youngsters to be happy with their own best efforts. Lies's (Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle) bright, crisp acrylics boost the energy level, illustrating the animals with rib-tickling human trappings, among them a frog in a fez, a worm on a pogo stick, a tadpole being pushed in a glass tank stroller. Framing this pro-fitness story, the endpapers display Finklehopper stretching out, and a title page shows the hero reading a newspaper headlined: "Exercise Found to Promote Hoppiness." Ages 3-7. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

K^-Gr. 2. The premise isn't new, but the fresh art and animal cast will appeal to children learning about self-esteem. In his urgency to join the fitness trend, Finklehopper buys a silly looking outfit and takes up jogging, even though he's used to hopping. The other animals laugh at him. Finally, another hopper, Ruby Rabbit, encourages Finklehopper to quit trying to be like everyone else and just HOP. The acrylic-paint illustrations in bright, summery colors feature comical images of animals tricked out in exercise garb: an alligator wears headphones, a turtle sports a baseball cap, a cat jogs in a pink tracksuit. They all run on their hind legs like humans, and the blend of animal and human traits is clever and funny: the chimp who runs the clothing store where Finklehopper buys his jogging suit holds up hangers with her toes as well as her fingers. The rhythmic text will be fun to read aloud, and the story may encourage kids to get up and do some hopping of their own. --Diane Foote

PreS-Gr 1-Finklehopper Frog wants to join the exercise crowd. Dressed in his new jogging suit that's almost electric with its brightly colored stripes and circles, he "hippied and he hoppied," which makes the other animals laugh at him. Elephants carry water bottles, bats wear running shoes, and snakes sport sweatbands. Only Ruby Rabbit points out that Finklehopper's style suits him just fine, and he hops along with his usual frog expertise. Lies entertains with a full range of cartoon expressions and strict attention to the smallest details in the lives (and jogging attire) of more than 30 animals. With rhyming verse, Livingston points out the strengths of individuality and diversity. Large-font text overlays full-page art done in acrylic paint, creating an entertaining read-aloud.-Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.