SNOG THE FROG

Everyone knows what’s supposed to happen when a princess kisses a frog, but Bonning suggests a subtler alternative in this breezy British import. Snog things that a birthday kiss would be just the ticket, but Cow, Sheep, Snake, and even Pig—“ ‘Oh Hoggy Hog Hog, give this Froggy Frog Frog a snoggy snog snog.’ ‘What! Snort! I’ll never kiss your sort,’ ”—refuse to oblige. Along comes a real princess, though, who knows the benefits of frog-kissing, or so she thinks. Beardshaw illustrates Snog’s quest for a snog in sunny, widely brushed outdoor scenes featuring a frog in striped swimwear and a young benefactor whose hair and sneakers are the same bright orange. In the end, the still-froggy Snog announces that he may not look like a prince, but he feels like one—and even the princess looks happy for him. Younger readers on this side of the pond may not get the title’s pun at first, but by the end will be lining up for snogs of their own. (Picture book. 5-7)