What to read after... Oi Frog!

Kes Gray and Jim Field’s brilliant picture book became an instant hit with young readers thanks to its catchy rhymes, ridiculous illustrations and hilarious seating combinations (with lizards who sit on wizards and storks who sit on forks to name but a few!)

Children who fell in love with the bossy cat and the uncomfortable frog will be sure to enjoy the rest of the Oi Frog and Friends series, a further five titles which continue to have fun with rhyme and language in some seriously silly situations! 

However, if you have read the entirety of the series and are craving more rhyme, rhythm and silliness, then look no further. This article shares some of our recommendations for titles which capture the essence of the fun, playful language that Oi Frog is so renowned for.   

Rhythm and Rhyme  

Sharing rhyming and rhythmical stories with young children can be an excellent way to introduce language whilst enjoying shared reading experiences. The scansion patterns involved create a sense of momentum and expectancy which can be used as a scaffold to support early reading skills. Authors can disrupt this sense of expectancy for great comic effect as demonstrated by Oi Frog.  

Rhyme can also support children’s recall for elements of stories.The repeated chorusing in many of Julia Donaldson’s books gives children the confidence to join in and become part of a shared reading experience. We love Room on the Broom for its excellent rhyming text, memorable repeated refrains and accessible humour.  

A classic in the genre, Hairy Maclary also features catchy rhyme and clear sequencing. Join the much-loved pooch as he journeys out with more and more of his friends – each of which is introduced with a rhyming description. This is a great book for practising recall and retelling for children and they will love the hilarious ending as the dogs scamper home with their tails between their legs! 

With a more classical narrative arc, Rachel Bright’s excellent book The Lion Inside uses engaging rhyme and beautiful illustrations to introduce themes of confidence and self-belief.  

Wordplay 

Another element of Oi Frog that has contributed to its popularity is the way it plays with expectations and rules of language. Reading can be intimidating for some children and the world of words can be perceived as a rigid and incomprehensible entity. By playing with language and encouraging silliness in reading experiences, these potential barriers can be broken down and children can feel more empowered in their own reading journeys.  

Carson Ellis’ Du Iz Tak? uses a completely fictitious language to tell a simple story of insects interacting with a new plant. As it's open to interpretation, there is no right or wrong translation to their dialogue and the normal power dynamic between adult and child reader is disrupted.  

The Book With no Pictures similarly alters the normal dynamic of shared reading. In this clever book, the adult is “forced” to read silly, embarrassing words out loud – much to the excitement of their child audience! 

Oi Frog may well inspire children to have a go at exploring language in their own writing. In this case, they might enjoy challenging themselves by having a go at some of the excellent Poetry Prompts found in Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho’s book. While this is aimed at a slightly higher age range, its activities are accessible with some adult support.   

Silly Animals 

If it was the hilarious animal antics that caught the imagination of your child reader, they will be sure to love these similarly outrageous animal characters! 

For more rule-breaking and chaotic critters, why not try You Can’t Take an Elephant on a Bus? This book delights its audience with absurd situations including a giraffe on a plane, an elephant on a bus, and a pig on a skateboard!   

Nick Sharratt’s Shark in the Park involves animals and rhyme in an unexpected way. Children will love searching for the elusive shark along with Timothy and his trusty telescope.   

For a more contemporary animal tale, have a read of Snail in Space by Rachel Bright and Nadia Shireen. This funny, rhyming story tells the tale of a snail with a huge dream (and a particularly nice leopard-print shell!)

Finally, if it’s more grumpy frogs that you’re after, look no further than Ed Vere’s aptly named... Grumpy Frog. Featuring Vere’s trademark illustrative style, this book explores themes of friendship and dealing with losing games.