Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

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Screenwise Verdict

This is Dav Pilkey doing what he does best: making reading irresistible to kids who'd rather be doing literally anything else. The genius here is the book-within-a-book structure—you're not just reading about creativity, you're watching characters mess up, revise, and find their voices, which makes kids want to grab markers and make their own comics immediately.

The artistic variety is legitimately impressive—watercolors, collage, photography, calligraphy—showing kids that 'art' isn't just one thing. Parents consistently report the 'sneaky art lessons' pay off with kids actually creating.

Yes, there are fart jokes. Yes, the baby frogs misspell words. If you're looking for refined literature, keep walking. But if you want your 7-year-old to read 200+ pages without complaining and maybe learn something about persistence and creative expression? This delivers. The 4.9 Amazon rating isn't a fluke—kids genuinely love these books.

One caveat: a Christian parenting site flagged a 'sanctity of life' joke in volume one as inappropriate, so if you're particularly sensitive to that, flip through first. For most families, this is a no-brainer addition to the bookshelf.

Age Fit

Best for ages 6-11, especially reluctant readers or kids who love to draw. The graphic novel format, silly humor, and creative inspiration hit the sweet spot for early elementary through middle school. Younger kids (4-5) can enjoy it read aloud, but the meta-comic structure really lands with kids who can read independently.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

Models creativity, persistence through mistakes, and collaborative learning as baby frogs learn to make comics together. Dav Pilkey's signature silliness (fart jokes, wordplay) keeps it light and age-appropriate. Some parents noted one volume 'mocking the sanctity of life' which feels out of place, but overall tone is supportive and encouraging of self-expression.

Imaginative

93

Absolutely stuffed with creative techniques—acrylic paints, colored pencils, Japanese calligraphy, photography, collage, gouache, watercolors—that show kids different artistic approaches. The meta-narrative of characters creating their own mini-comics ('Squid Kid and Katydid,' 'Baby Frog Squad,' 'Monster Cheese Sandwich') directly invites kids to make their own. Parents specifically praised the 'sneaky art lessons' baked into the story.

Safe

92

It's a book—no monetization, ads, or social features. Content is silly and harmless (typical Pilkey humor with bathroom jokes and wordplay). One parent flagged a concern about 'mocking sanctity of life' in volume one, but this appears to be an outlier concern rather than graphic or traumatic content. Deliberate misspellings annoy some parents but aren't a safety issue.

Enriching

87

Explicitly teaches the creative process—making mistakes, revising, finding your voice—through the baby frogs' comic-making journey. Multiple artistic media expose kids to different techniques. Gets reluctant readers engaged (4.9 Amazon rating, strong parent testimonials about kids reading independently). The meta-comic structure builds media literacy. Entertaining enough to keep kids turning pages while sneaking in genuine lessons about persistence and artistic expression.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely teaches the creative process—mistakes, revisions, finding your voice—through an engaging story about baby frogs making comics
Uses multiple artistic techniques (watercolor, collage, photography, Japanese calligraphy) to show kids there's no one 'right' way to create
Gets reluctant readers hooked—parents rave about kids reading independently for the first time
The meta-comic structure (comics within comics) builds media literacy and invites kids to become creators, not just consumers
From Dav Pilkey (Dog Man, Captain Underpants), so you know what you're getting: silly, accessible, and wildly popular with the elementary set

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What to Watch For

Classic Pilkey humor—fart jokes, bathroom references, general silliness—so if you hated Captain Underpants, this isn't a departure
Deliberate misspellings in the baby frogs' comics annoy some parents, though kids typically find it hilarious and relatable
One volume includes a joke about 'sanctity of life' that rubbed some parents the wrong way (flagged by Redeemed Reader as 'bold for a children's book')
If your kid gets inspired, prepare for a LOT of homemade comics taped to your fridge

Conversation Starters

"Which baby frog's comic was your favorite? What made it funny or interesting to you?"
"If you were going to make your own comic, what would it be about? What art style would you use?"
"The frogs make a lot of mistakes in their comics—has that ever happened to you when you're creating something? How did you fix it?"
"Dav Pilkey uses so many different art techniques in this book. Which one do you want to try?"

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