Leaping Ground Frogs

Discusses the natural habitat, physical characteristics, diet, and behavior of ground frogs.

Once upon a time, not so very many years ago, there were two little frog boys who lived in a little pond near a nice big farm. It wasn't very far from where Peetie and Jackie Bow-Wow, the puppy dogs, had their home, and the frogs' house was right next door to the pen where Lulu and Alice and Jimmie Wibblewobble the ducks lived.There was Bully No-Tail, and his brother Bawly No-Tail, and the reason Bawly had such a funny name was because when he was a little baby he used to cry a good bit. And once he cried so much that he made a lot more water in the pond than should have been there, and it ran over, just like when you put too much milk in your glass, and made the ground all wet.The last name of the frogs was “No-Tail,” because, being frogs, you see, they had no tails.But now Bawly was larger, and he didn't cry so much, I'm glad to say. And with the frog boys lived their papa and mamma, and also a nice, big, green and yellow spotted frog who was named Grandpa Croaker. Oh, he was one of the nicest frogs I have ever known, and I have met quite a number.One day when Bully and Bawly were hopping along on the ground, close to the edge of the pond, Bully suddenly said:“Bawly, I think I can beat you in a swimming race.”“I don't believe you can,” spoke Bawly, as he thoughtfully scratched his left front leg on a piece of hickory bark.

Once upon a time, not so very many years ago, there were two little frog boys who lived in a little pond near a nice big farm. It wasn't very far from where Peetie and Jackie Bow-Wow, the puppy dogs, had their home, and the frogs' house was right next door to the pen where Lulu and Alice and Jimmie Wibblewobble the ducks lived.There was Bully No-Tail, and his brother Bawly No-Tail, and the reason Bawly had such a funny name was because when he was a little baby he used to cry a good bit. And once he cried so much that he made a lot more water in the pond than should have been there, and it ran over, just like when you put too much milk in your glass, and made the ground all wet.The last name of the frogs was “No-Tail,” because, being frogs, you see, they had no tails.

Frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and the rare caecilians come in a stunning array of colors, shapes, sizes, and habitats. They live both in water and on land and move in a variety of ways from swimming to hopping and even flying. With a series of specially commissioned photographs, DK Eyewitness Books: Amphibian takes a close look at the fascinating natural history of these creatures from the bright green, red-eyed tree frogs to dull, burrowing, wormlike caecilians; from startling black and yellow fire salamanders to tiny transparent glass frogs. The most trusted nonfiction series on the market, Eyewitness Books provide an in-depth, comprehensive look at their subjects with a unique integration of words and pictures.

Many people believe that a person can get warts just by touching a toad. While this enduring myth is not true, a toad's warts are harmful to many of its predators. The warts produce a poison, and most animals that eat toads often get sick and can even die. Many animals, such as dogs and foxes, spit out a toad after just one bite because the poison tastes so bad. These are just some of the interesting facts that kids will learn when they enter the world of Warty Toads. Vivid, full-color photos will captivate kids as they see up close what these wart-covered creatures eat, how they stay safe, and the tremendous transformations that take place as these amphibians grow from tiny tadpoles to adult toads.

While almost all frogs begin their lives in the water, adult frogs make their homes in many different places. Some types of frogs remain in the water, while other kinds stay mostly on firm ground. Then there are frogs that prefer to spend their time up in the trees. As kids are about to discover, these tricky tree frogs have some cool ways of surviving high above the ground! In Tricky Tree Frogs, kids will learn all about this amphibian’s diet, natural habitat, life cycle, and physical characteristics. Vivid, full-color photos will captivate kids as they see up close what these tree-dwelling creatures eat, how they stay safe, and the tremendous transformations that take place as these amphibians grow from tiny tadpoles to adult frogs.

Most newts are small-—between 2 and 5 inches. How do these little amphibians protect themselves from big, hungry enemies? Many newts, such as the red-spotted newt, are covered in poisonous mucus. The animal’s bright colors warn predators that eating the newt can be deadly. But what if an animal decides to attack anyway? If grabbed by an enemy, a newt can lose its tail and escape. Within a few weeks, the newt grows a new tail to replace the one it lost. These are just some of the fun facts that kids will learn when they enter the world of Little Newts. Vivid, full-color photos and clear, grade-appropriate text will engage emergent readers as they learn about the natural habitat, physical characteristics, diet, and behavior of these tiny amphibians.