"Frog and friends are a delightful group—entertaining, charming, and funny. Just the sort of friends anyone is glad to have." – Kirkus Reviews In Book 8 of this engaging beginning reader series from acclaimed children's writer Eve Bunting, when Frog and his Friends are joined for their Thanksgiving feast by a hedgehog, and they all discover that making new friends is worth it, even if it's a bit scary at first; Frog has his friends wake him from his winter hibernation so he can enjoy his first Christmas; and they ring in the new year with a festive party but decide to skip on making changes. The stories are quietly entertaining and cleverly humorous with solid plots, subtle lessons, and a cozy sense of community among the group of friends. Bunting's polished prose is several levels above most early readers, particularly in Frog's calm leadership and in the understated humor. Charming illustrations are thoughtfully integrated with the text, including lots of spot illustrations as well as some full-page views. Just like the Frog and Toad series, these stories work well as early readers but are also strong enough to succeed as read-alouds for younger children too. Frog and friends are a delightful group―entertaining, charming, and funny. Just the sort of friends anyone is glad to have. ― Kirkus Reviews Published On: 2015-09-01 Eve Bunting was born in a little town in Ireland called Maghera and she was brought up in the tradition of storytelling. Her mother started a library in their house and there were always books available to read. Most were poetry, which Eve loved. She also loved ghost stories and adventure stories; actually stories of all kinds. So she grew up, got married, had three children, and became a storyteller herself. She went on to write hundreds of books―many of them award-winning―that were enjoyed by readers of all ages. Eve died in 2023 at the age of 94, but her wonderful storytelling lives on in her work. Josée Masse's children's books include "Mirror, Mirror" (selected as one of Publishers Weekly's Best Children's Books of 2010) and "Mousie Love" (included in Bank Street College's Best Children's Books of the Year, 2010).