13 May 2011

Book Review: Frog and Toads of the World



Frogs and Toads of the World by Chris Mattison

The front cover of this book captures your attention at first glance with a small red-eyed leaf frog perched on a stem. Once you open the book you will fall into a world of colorful photos, interesting facts, and up-to-date research. If you are a naturalist, a herp-lover, or an interested student, you will find Frogs and Toads of the World a delightful read. The text is superb but it's the photos that will keep your attention. Take for instance the series of frog eyes on pages 26 & 27. They are like mini works of art staring back at you. Mattison covers all 49 families of frogs and toads but the majority of his book covers basic amphibian biology and natural history.

As a naturalist, a book like Frogs and Toads of the World can be applied in my every day teachings. For instance, I will definitely be applying my new knowledge the next time we find a frog on our nature walk. Did you know frogs were once used as a pregnancy test method? Did you know some frogs give live birth or carry their eggs in a pouch? How about the glass frogs, did you know that some frogs have clear skin that allows you to see their internal organs? These are just a sprinkling of fun facts found in this book. As a teacher, this book will become a very useful resource at my nature center. I highly recommend that you add this book to your library. This book is a great way to glimpse inside the secret lives of frogs and toads.

This review copy was provided by Princeton University Press.

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