The Very Funny Frog
Written and Illustrated by Jack Tickle
ISBN: 978-1-84506-947-6
This pop-up book is a collection of fun spring-time poems about the many creatures and critters that children may find in their garden. Poems include butterflies, frogs, birds, rabbits, ladybugs, and spiders. There is even a mole! Could this be the same mole that grows up to become a musician (Mole Music by David McPhail) or even Gustav Mole (by Michael Twinn)?
Each poem is 4-lines that can be sung to the tune of the familiar folk melody "Cindy." Read through the poems once before sharing with the class as the rhythm of words may need to be slightly adjusted to fit the familiar tune. Use each poem individually or all together for a full springtime musical experience.
In the traditional refrain, "Get along home, Cindy, Cindy," invite the children to sing the beginning poem, "In my garden, in my garden, in my garden, so come and take a look. "
Extension: Divide the children into groups and have each group choose a favorite poem from the book. Invite one child to read each line of the poem. Have children improvise pentatonic melodies corresponding to the rhythm of the words in each line of the poem as it is read.
Example:
Read Line 1 / Have a child read Line 1
Children improvise a pentatonic melody based upon the rhythm of the words from line 1.
Read Line 2 / Have a child read Line 2
Children improvise a pentatonic melody based upon the rhythm of the words from line 2.
Read Line 3 / Have a child read Line 3
Children improvise a pentatonic melody based upon the rhythm of the words from line 3.
Read Line 4 / Have a child read Line 4
Children improvise a pentatonic melody based upon the rhythm of the words from line 4.
Sing the refrain mentioned above to create a verse/refrain selection.
Enjoy the story and keep singing. :)
