The Perfect Ribbit

1.

2.

frog
froglet
frogspawn
tadpole

3.

On a sunny day in spring, Mama Frog admired the eggs she
had laid in the pond.
“That is the most beautiful clump of frogspawn I’ve ever seen,”
smiled Papa Frog.
Mama and Papa couldn’t wait for the little black dots to turn
into tadpoles so they could welcome them to the pond.

4.

After three weeks, the first tadpole wriggled out of his jelly,
excited to explore. “Mama says I’m a tapple,” he told the
fish proudly.
Tapple was full of questions and learnt lots of things about
pond life. He learnt that the fish were fast swimmers...
...and that some of the ducks had ticklish feet.
“Not a tapple, a tadpole!” said Mama Frog with a smile. “But
Tapple is a great name for you.”

5.

Most importantly, he learnt that when he grew up, he would
become a frog, just like Mama and Papa.
‘I want to be a really good frog,’ he thought. ‘Maybe I should
start practising now.’
Tapple swam to the surface of the pond to watch some of the
other frogs. They looked very different from Tapple and they
made the most amazing noises.

6.

So, Tapple swam to the clearest patch of water and got ready
to practise the perfect ribbit.
said the frogs. They were so loud that Tapple could hear them
from under the water.
He wiggled his tummy…
‘I want to be just like them,’ thought Tapple. ‘But I’ll need
a perfect frog noise.’
…puffed out his chin…
…opened his mouth and…

7.

he said.
Tapple was disappointed. That wasn’t a perfect ribbit.
“It’s OK,” said Mama Frog. “You’re a tiny tadpole. You’ll get
the hang of it when you’re bigger.”

8.

A few weeks later, Tapple had grown some back legs.
‘I’m changing!’ he thought excitedly. ‘Maybe I’m ready to
make a frog noise now.’
So, Tapple clung to the tallest pondweed and got ready to
practise the perfect ribbit.
He wiggled his tummy…
…puffed out his chin…
…opened his mouth and…

9.

he said.
Tapple was sad. That wasn’t a perfect ribbit.
“It’s OK,” said Papa Frog. “You’re a growing tadpole. You’ll get
the hang of it when you’re bigger.”

10.

A few weeks later, Tapple had grown some front legs.
‘I’ve changed some more!’ he thought excitedly.
‘Maybe I’m ready to make a frog noise now.’
So, Tapple stood on the biggest rock and got ready to practise
the perfect ribbit.
He wiggled his tummy…
…puffed out his chin…
…opened his mouth and…

11.

he said.
Tapple was worried. That wasn’t a perfect ribbit.
“It’s OK,” said Mama Frog. “You’re nearly a froglet. You’ll get
the hang of it when you’re bigger.”

12.

A few weeks later, Tapple’s tail began to shrink and he felt able
to explore above the water. ‘I’m a froglet!’ he thought excitedly. ‘
‘Maybe I’m ready to make a frog noise now.’
So, Tapple stood on the prettiest lily pad and got ready to
practise the perfect ribbit.
He wiggled his tummy…
…puffed out his chin…
…opened his mouth and…

13.

That wasn’t a perfect ribbit…

14.

…but it was a perfect croak!
Croak!
Chirp!

15.

Froggy Facts:
Female
frogs can lay
thousands of
eggs at a
time.
Frogs can
drink water
through their
skin.
A group
of frogs is
called an
‘army’.
Frogs can
breathe through
their skin and
also by using
their lungs.
Frogs are
amphibians.
This means they
can live on land
and in water.
Common
frogs hibernate
in winter.