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| Billy and the Birdfrogs | 
 enlarge | Author: B.b. Wurge
Publisher: Leapfrog Press
Category: Book
List Price: $9.95
Buy New: $3.77
You Save: $6.18 (62%)
New (29) Used (13) from $2.76
Avg. Customer Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 835718
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 178
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.5
ISBN: 0981514820
EAN: 9780981514826
ASIN: 0981514820
Publication Date: October 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New Book, Ships Immediately
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Product Description
"Exciting-edge of your seat-nail-biting-page turning . . . one of the funniest books ever written. Ignoring, perhaps redefining, logic, B.B. Wurge has fashioned an unbelievable story that ultimately makes perfect sense. Wurge has a voice that is unique and fresh among writers of children's literature."-Catherine Safer, author of Bishop's Road and What If Your Mom Made Raisin Buns? "The charm and humor of The Princess Bride and the intelligence of A Series of Unfortunate Events."-Steven V. Monte, author of Selected Poetry of Victor Hugo In this vivid and complex child's-eye view of the world, we meet nine-year-old Billy, who lives in a row house in New York City with his very odd grandmother. When their house is invaded by mysterious "birdfrogs" who leave three-footed prints but are never seen, Billy's grandmother takes drastic action. Their adventures lead them deep under the streets of New York, past woolly mammoth fossils to a shaft where the birdfrogs-and other creatures-lie in wait. Off beat humor, crazy villains, and the final triumph of family loyalty combine to delight anyone with an imagination. B.B. Wurge lives in an elevator in Manhattan. He turned to writing after leaving his first career as an entertainer in a primate house. He says, "I've been told the world is crazy, more now than ever. That may be true, but children should know they can navigate successfully through our crazy world if they stick to fundamental principles: loyalty to family and friends, compassion, and an open imagination."
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 Beware the small birdfrogs, my son. November 29, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Periodically someone will ask me as a children's librarian to name some "funny books" for kids. I try to help them out, but what exactly are they asking me for? A joke-a-minute laughfest or just a story that contains funny situations? Are they going to insist on "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" hilarity or can I get away with handing over the subtler "Donuthead" antics? For whatever reason, funny books are a constant request children make in the library, but no publisher has gone so far as to create a funny children's book imprint. Until that happy day arrives we will have to be content with locating the funny books out there under every nook and in every cranny. And recently in a particularly deep cranny I found "Billy and the Birdfrogs", a book that survives by the sheer weight of its own insane internal logic.
"When I was about four years old, my grandmother used a welding torch to seal off the basement door in the kitchen." So begins Billy's tale of his grandmother versus the birdfrogs. When Billy's archaeologist mother disappeared into a deep hole below the surface of the earth many years ago, the hole remained though the mother was gone. Now Billy's grandmother has discovered that something has been coming out of that hole. Something small. Something with three feet. Something, for lack of a better term, that can only be called a birdfrog. With the discovery that the birdfrogs are potentially violent and might be escaping into the outside world, Grandma and Billy close themselves off from the danger. However, when Grandma leaves one day to visit City Hall and disappears, it's up to Billy to solve the mystery of the birdfrogs once and for all. Even if it means descending far below the surface of the earth into a world entirely unexpected.
There is a mistake that certain comic authors make when they try to combine dark elements with child-friendly humor. Many will find that they cannot walk this delicate balance and will go horribly astray if their text is not tended to carefully. Consider the human finger found in "Canned" or the man-eating ferrets of "Ferret Island". Neither of those two books really worked, though there were some fun ideas swimming about in them. And at first glance "Billy and the Birdfrogs" would seem to be along the same lines. Billy's grandmother becomes convinced of the presence of homicidal creatures from below the surface of the earth eating little old ladies pretty early in the book. However the story sports a rather light-handed tone. It's a tone that could come off as needlessly flippant if it weren't for the fact that Wurge manages to give his lines an underlying seriousness. And somehow through this tone and the content of grandma's character (which I will get to) the book not only holds together but works. Astonishing.
A mistake a lot of children's novelists can also make is to create these passive protagonists that never go out and do anything. Magical things simply happen to them. And Billy, to his credit, isn't like that. Once the villains have initially had their way and foisted the boy upon his kindly if distracted neighbors, Billy has to take matters into his own hands. This involves breaking and entering in numerous inventive ways. Probably not the kind of thing you'd want your own kids doing, but for the purposes of this book it's a welcome relief. Particularly when, prior to taking a spelunking tour into the deepest depths of the earth, Billy actually thinks to pack some food and some light.
Interestingly enough, the first quarter of this book reads like a play. The action takes place pretty much within Billy's house, particularly since he's forbidden to leave it anytime soon. Wurge works at keeping the plot from growing stagnant but mixes it up in terms of Grandma's flashbacks and Billy's aging. Which bring us to the whole a-boy-isn't-allowed-to-leave-his-house-for-five-years storyline. I mean you actually shouldn't be able to blame the city employees for suspecting that foul play is at work. If some boy's grandmother shut him off from the rest of the world for years on end because she claimed that there were malicious underground creatures bent on worldwide destruction, you might give a call to child protective services yourself. In fact, for adults reading this book much of the beginning is given over to figuring out whether or not we're dealing with an unreliable narrator here. Is Grandma actually kooky in the head? You'd probably be inclined to say yes were it not for the character's self-deprecation. Her humor and dry wit end up being Grandma's saving grace. I'm the first person to growl in anger at irresponsible parenting (the sad but true reason why I've never much cared for Hilary McKay's Casson series). But Grandma's okay in my book. She's ultimately wrong, and maybe the social weirdnesses she's contracted to her grandson will have dark repercussions in the future, but at least she has his best interests at heart.
One weirdness that I couldn't quite overlook was where this story was set. Though much of the book supposedly takes place (as the back cover says) "beneath the streets of New York", this did not feel like a New York City title in the slightest. There is no sense of place to this book, the fact that it is in "the middle of Manhattan" more an inconsequential detail rather than an honest-to-goodness setting. Better to say that this story takes place in some kind of Anytown, U.S.A., I think.
Because "Billy and Birdfrogs" is a bit younger than your average everyday middle grade novel (his age of nine is actually a tip-off right there), it would probably be best suited for the child that loves Roald Dahl stories. There's definitely an element of Dahl's fondness for weirdness in this pup. And any book that uses the term "hit gorilla" instead of "hit man" in all seriousness is a book worth looking at. For those funny-book junkies out there, "Billy" fulfills a need. Downright weird, and that's a-okay with me, it's worth a gander.
Billy brings it home! November 9, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
From page one, this magnificent story takes you on a unique journey like no other. Though Billy's adventure physically takes him deep into the heart of another world, it also takes him deep within himself. Wurge's crafty satire runs throughout the pages, allowing a child's look at the "system" before them. His use of vibrant characters is brilliant, allowing the reader a personal connection with Billy and his companions. And along with a voice all his own, Wurge gets right at the heart of family. We meet Billy's loving grandmother, a wonderfully flawed woman, full of life and tenacity. She is young Billy's biggest fan, and would go to any length to insure his wellbeing...even if that means giving her own life in exchange for his. In their relationship, they hold great value in honesty and true selflessness, and teach us much as they each come to life. We learn the value of loyalty as Billy struggles to seek out truth. We learn the value of self-confidence as Billy looks deep inside to find inspiration and hope. And we learn the value of forgiveness as Billy learns that no deeds go unanswered. With an immense imagination Wurge has spun a tale of great precision, and created a work full of both fun and wisdom for children of all ages...including those of us on up in years.
I laughed the whole way through! - Kyle Dickerson
Can't wait to read this to my third graders!! November 1, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
BILLY AND THE BIRDFROGS is not the type of book that I would normally pick up and read, but when given the opportunity to read and review it, I decided to give it a go. Having taught third grade for over thirty years, I'm always looking for a great fresh read to share with my students. Well, the story pulled me right in and I couldn't put the book down. I won't share the plot, since so many of the reviews have already done just that. I can not wait to read this book to my students. I've been sharing tidbits with them along the way, and they are begging me to read it to them. It will be my next chapter book read-aloud and I will definitely come back to share the perspective of a whole classroom of third graders. This suspenseful, humorous, and all-around fun book even including some difficulties of life bring around great feelings and affection toward Billy and his family. I, too, feel it is appropriate for 8 year olds and above. Thank you, B.B.Wurge for writing a book that will bring reading pleasure to youngsters.
Zany Adventure - Highly Creative Imagination October 23, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Billy's mother was a paleontologist. His father worked as her head assistant on her projects. After his mother mysteriously disappeared, his father deserted Billy.
As the story begins Billy is living with his grandmother. Their Manhattan townhouse is threatened by strange birdfrogs. Billy's adventure takes him deep under the streets of New York.
Wurge writes with a creative imagination that triggers a chain reaction in the reader as their brain explodes with wild images, visualizations, and ideas of their own. He uses mystery, suspense, conflict, and adventure to build a strong plot. His character development is superb. As a reader I empathized with hero and felt distrust and dislike for the villains.
The book is filled with clever illustrations, delightful humor, and a marvelous story line designed to be enjoyed by children ages 9 - 12, but with an appeal for all ages.
"Billy and the Birdfrogs" is entertaining, downright funny, and highly imaginative. A great read.
Kid Tested and Passed. He Loved It! October 22, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I worried about this book - and its gorilla author. Grandma seals up Billy and herself inside their Manhattan four story. Billy's mother disappeared down an archeological hole in the basement. Billy is homeschooled, which explains his never leaving. Food (spaghetti with tennis balls) arrives via delivery through the package slot.
Billy is happy about all this, except for the Birdfrogs. Grandma tells him tales of footprints she's seen from these three-legged creatures that worry her. She seals windows, doors, and access to the basement. Then, Grandma disappears.
How would my ten-year-old grandson react to this? He does not like scary books. I put it to the test with his fortunately still-present mother in charge and the caveat to stop reading if it gets too scary.
It does get scary fast, but he kept reading, apparently being strange enough and interesting enough that he kept going. I won't ruin it for readers, but Grandson described it as "awesome." I admire this gorilla's imagination and tale spinning ability and hope he keeps it forever.
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