Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout

Megan McDonald's Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout is a funny, froggy story for 7 year olds about a boy who still won't put his face under the water.

What happens

At swimming lessons Stink is still a Polliwog, splashing about in the shallow end. His big sister Judy is nearly a Barracuda. Stink can doggy-paddle across the pool with a noodle, but he once got dunked and had water shoot up his nose. He's not doing that again on purpose, thank you!

Then he finds a tiny green frog in the pool showers. It only has three legs. Stink names him King Otto, king of the three-legged frogs, and lets him go.

Later that day there's a frog in his boot. And another in the bath. Is it raining frogs?

A visit to the nature centre brings him Jasper, a student with a tiny beard and wellies up to his knees. Jasper explains why frogs are turning up in odd places and why some of them have extra legs or eyes. Pollution, fertiliser and building work are part of it. Who knew a frog story would have so much real science tucked into it?

Stink signs up for a night-time frog count. First he has to pass a quiz on frog calls, and Judy helps by turning it into a game with a comb, a balloon and a squeaky rubber duck. It's a lovely brother-and-sister bit (she can be kind when she wants to be).

Then something truly freaky happens. The morning after the count, a bright blue frog turns up on Stink's bed, and it licks him.

Stink has been reading his dad's old Spider-Man comics. So he's quite sure this is how Peter Parker got his powers, and that he's slowly turning into a frog. Suddenly he wants to eat raisins (they look like dead flies). He wants to sleep in the damp basement. He goes swimming in the kitchen sink with his snorkel on.

That's the joke the whole book is built on, and it's a very good one. Your reader will be one step ahead of Stink and loving every minute.

There's nothing scary in it, just lots of gross fun and one brave kid. It's a great pick for anyone who's ever been nervous of the deep end.

What to read next

This is the eighth Stink book. If they're still hungry for water creatures, Stink and the Shark Sleepover takes him to spend a whole night at the aquarium, with sharks gliding past behind the glass.