Hungry Little Frog: 9

An amphibian's search for a meal is coupled with a counting lesson in this combination picture/concept book. Hoping to breakfast on a ladybug, a hungry frog must follow his prey from three yellow flowers to four red strawberries, to a nest containing five blue eggs, and so on. Though Hirschi's text (admittedly written to accompany the series of photographs) is sometimes forced, brisk pacing and a clearly expressed concept make up for this minor flaw. Kuhn's sharp photos, with their many distinctive color contrasts, offer easy object identification. (Young readers will overlook the scenes' staginess in favor of the finely focused subject matter.) In an author's note, biologist Hirschi stresses that this is not a nonfiction text and--among other issues--begs indulgence for his imprecise use of the term ``bug.'' This versatile title provides a closer look at common backyard biology and encourages a familiarity with numbers. Ages 3-7. (Sept.)