Frog Went A-Courting: A Musical Play in Six Acts [With Musical Arrangement for Voice and Guitar]

Catalano (illustrator of Sleeping Beauty) serves up this familiar folk song with a splash of whimsy, setting it in its native Scotland as a stage musical. Decked out in kilt and sporran, his bagpipes tucked under his arm, Frog cuts a fine figure as he sets off with his faithful drummer atop a saddled duck to woo the fair Miss Mouse. Things progress swiftly; Frog secures Uncle Rat's consent and wedding preparations are soon underway. After the festivities, the happy couple heads ""off to France./ So ends our story but starts their romance."" It's a straightforward retelling, with the real fun residing in the illustrations: droll touches include wedding guests divided into frogs for the groom's side, mice for the bride; a disgruntled kitty who lurks in the background, then makes off with the bagpipes; and, on the ship bound for France, a figurehead that looks like a cross between Kermit the Frog and the Little Mermaid. Catalano adheres to the theatrical theme throughout, presenting six ""acts"" (i.e., verses) opening with black-and-white sketches of the stage production, complete with props and actors, then following up with full-bleed pastels that flesh out the action. Skillfully shaded and blended, the artwork has a textured look that transforms horizontal perspectives into dramatic backdrops. The subplot with the bagpipes has a satisfying ending, too--as a wedding present, Frog receives a saxophone from his blushing bride. A simple arrangement of the song, complete with guitar chords, sounds the closing notes to this buoyant musical. Ages 4-6. (Sept.)