Natterjack Toad Can't Believe It!

By Author / Illustrator

Sean Taylor, Kathryn Durst

Genre

Animals

Age range(s)

Publisher

Walker Books

ISBN

9781406397772

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

06-06-2024

Synopsis

Will Natterjack Toad EVER get to eat his cookies? Or will he become a SNACK himself?

Do you have a favourite snack? One you've been thinking about all day, and just can't wait to tuck into? Well, our friend Natterjack Toad has a packet of delicious chocolate-chunk crunchy-munch cookies and he can't wait to tuck in. So, he gets himself all nice and comfortable, ready to savour every last chocolately bite - he reaches into the packet, he opens his mouth, and then ... Natterjack Toad can't believe it!

Every time he tries to eat his cookies, there's something in the way: a lanky heron, a frisky-whiskered weasel, a scurrying vole - all on the lookout for a (toady) snack themselves. Will he ever be able to eat his chocolate-chunk crunchy-munch cookies in peace?

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Reviews

Natterjack Toad Can't Believe It! is a picturebook that celebrates anticipation and satisfaction in a humorous, adventurous way. Natterjack Toad is looking forward to enjoying his favourite treat - Chocolate Chunk Crunchy Munch Cookies which "taste terrific and make a mighty crunch". He has the perfect peaceful environment to fully appreciate them but, just as he is about to take his first delicious noisy mouthful, Heron disturbs his idyll and he knows that if he continues with this bite, he will become Heron's next.

Irritated, he puts his cookie safely away and moves to another tranquil spot to savour his snack, but this time he his thwarted by Weasel. Again, he must resist consuming his biscuit in order to survive this encounter. On his third attempt he is interrupted by the extremely nervous Mole and Vole who warn him that an even more dangerous threat is looming, but Natterjack Toad doesn't believe them and to resist any further is just too much for him.

But there's more to his favourite treat than it just tasting good. Surprisingly, it comes to his rescue in evading this new danger, helps him make friends, and also leads him to discover a newer, even better cookie.

This novel way of exploring predators and prey sits alongside titles such as Who Ate Steve? by Susannah Lloyd and Kate Hindley. With its repetitive story pattern including key phrases for readers to anticipate and join in with and amusing illustrations, this is a story to enjoy and savour.

Picture book / Reviewed by Natalie J McChrystal Plimmer, librarian