Anyone who’s tried to explain to a preschooler what it means to be happy as a clam or snug as a bug in a rug will appreciate the wit and clarity of There’s a Frog in My Throat, by Pat Street ’62 and Loreen Leedy (Holiday House, 47 pages, $16.95, ). In this hilariously illustrated dictionary Leedy and Street define 440 (mostly) common English sayings about animals—pigs in pokes, eager beavers, Queen bees, social butterflies, and the like. Some of the expressions are clearly aimed at adults (“Big hat, no cattle,” and “Does a chicken have lips?” come to mind) but the definitions are clear enough to please the most demanding children. The mix of wordplay and whimsical illustration will delight kids and grown-ups alike. And for those of us whose heads are full of cobwebs, there’s an index. —Charlotte Bruce Harvey
Related Articles
The Return of Julia da Cruz
She’s the kind of student-teacher every high school dreams of recruiting. But she’s chosen to stay in Providence, her home town, and work at one of the city’s most troubled schools.
Almost Famous
As a major league pitcher, Brown dropout Bump Hadley won more games than any other Ivy Leaguer. But he’s best remembered for nearly killing one of baseball’s great catchers.
The Artist of Politics
In December the New York State Supreme Court voided the convictions of the five young men sent to prison for the 1989 rape and beating of a young jogger in Central Park. Among those celebrating was city councilor Bill Perkins ’72.
The Sole of Protest
How Washington, D.C., became civil-disobedience central.