Step into the enchanting world of "The Frog at the Window" by Scott Langteau, where holiday magic meets the charm of unexpected guests and heartwarming traditions. As I delved into this cozy Christmas tale, I found myself transported to a whimsical land filled with warmth, laughter, and a dash of froggy flair.

Katy and her family embark on a snowy Christmas adventure at Grandma's house, leaving their home temporarily vacant. Little do they know, a cold but clever frog seizes the chance to turn their cozy abode into his personal winter haven. The delightful chaos that ensues, with a parade of woodland creatures seeking refuge, unfolds into a heartening story of togetherness and holiday cheer.

Langteau's storytelling is a treat, effortlessly capturing the magic of the season. The characters, both human and amphibian, come to life with vivid descriptions and endearing personalities. The frog, in particular, is not just any amphibian; he's a charismatic, clever, and utterly lovable creature that adds a touch of wild charm to the festive tale.

The illustrations, akin to a festive tapestry, are a visual feast. Each page is adorned with lively depictions of the snowy landscape, the bustling animal community, and the heartwarming moments shared by the characters. The art style is not just visually appealing but also perfectly complements the cozy atmosphere of the narrative.

One of the aspects that struck a chord with me was the underlying message of kindness and generosity. What begins as a comical predicament turns into an annual tradition of warmth and sharing. The story beautifully conveys the spirit of the season, emphasizing the importance of open hearts and a sense of community.

As I turned the pages, I couldn't help but be swept away by the delightful fusion of festive joy and unexpected friendships. "The Frog at the Window" is not just a Christmas tale; it's a timeless reminder that the true magic of the season lies in embracing the spirit of giving, sharing, and creating cherished traditions.

This was beautifully written and enjoyable for the whole family! My 5 and 7 year olds loved it! They were able to understand and talk about it together which was beautiful to experience! Recommended for sure!

What could possibly go wrong? And how much fun would it be?
Lovely artwork and a cute story. I plan to purchase this book for my son who is a zookeeper.

Prose (Story): In a lushly-illustrated picture book, Katy and her parents leave to spend the Christmas holiday at Grandma's house just in time for a smart, cold little frog to move into their warmly-decorated home in their place - a move that inspires a forestful of other creatures to do the same to beat the cold. Soon the beleaguered frog has more roommates than he can handle, and before the house gets ruined tries to pull his new "friends" together to enjoy the holiday ... and get the heck out again before Katy and her family get back!

Don's (Review): The warmth and beauty on every page, thanks to Michaela Brannon's colorful, old-world, Christmassy illustrations, highlight a sweet and funny tale about learning to work together, but also the spirit of Christmas that can be found in kindness and generosity. The part when the gang of animals has to improvise what they're doing there, when a couple of people are spotted looking through the living room window at them, is nothing short of hilarious, but the entire book - for what is a new story - evokes a classic, old-world charm and cocoa-with-marshmallows kind of feel reminiscent of watching Miracle on 34th Street or It's a Wonderful Life on TV on Christmas Eve. A gorgeous, heartwarming read. 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

The Frog at the Window. By Scott Langteau, Illustrator: Michaela Brannon. 2020. Shake the Moon Books (ARC eBook).

As the Randall family preps to go to Grandma’s house for Christmas vacation, Katy sees a little frog at the window. But as she begins to tell her mom, she is rushed out the door to the car and off the Randalls go. As the snow falls the little frog is cold and takes the accidental opportunity that grants him entrance to the home. But soon all of the wildlife is making use; mice channel surfing, bears testing out the beds, a beaver proving the old adage “this is why we can’t have nice things,” and other crazy shenanigans as the outdoors spend their own vacation indoors. This book is so adorably illustrated and the story is fun, but what’s mine is not always yours;)

This book is so utterly cute and such a fun yet goofy ride. This book is set at Christmas time, but feels like the kind of book you can read to anyone during the holidays. The focus is not necessarily Christmas but the antics these animals get into. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, this is a great holiday book. It's all about a young girl giving some warmth to her animal friends. Except, maybe teach your kids to not do that.

The frog at the window has found a home for himself and his new friends. This book is a fun christmas story with vibrant illustrations. Kids will love the animals shenanigans. My only critique is that I wish the font were larger.

I thought that this book was lovely and it was a wonderful Christmas story!

The story was fun and I loved the different illustrations in the book, they really brought the story to life.

I am a sucker for kids books with animals and Christmas and this had both!

It is 4 stars from me for this one - highly recommended!

This was a lovely holiday read with vibrant illustrations and a warm story about animals partying for Christmas. Children will appreciate the message of spreading the holiday cheer and making sure everyone has a good time. The picture book is on the longer side and is therefore more appropriate for slightly older audience.

I was given a copy of this book for my honest review by NetGalley.

Oh golly gee, how adorable is this story! My four year old had me reading it almost daily to her and we have it on our holiday book wish list for the hard copy of this year. You will be coming back to read this one over and over again for years to come.

This was an adorable little tale of the woodland animals taking over a home while the family was away for the holidays. The illustrations were a perfect depiction of the words and it flowed well from start to finish. My kids enjoyed it, as did I. Would recommend to a friend!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book. My opinions are my own.

The Frog at the Window is a lovely Christmas tale inspired by a real life photo, about what our wild animal friends might be up to while we're away visiting family for the holidays!

Fun and imaginative, The Frog at the Window immediately captured my heart with its lively and colorful illustrations. The prose has a wonderful beat which accompanies its story as every woodland creature you can think of takes over the family home, just in time for a ruckus Christmas party!

While simple in its plot, this children's book is full of heart and fun. I highly recommend it to every family who enjoys a good holiday nighttime story.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Great book about animals taking over someone's house for the holidays. Laugh out loud moments and excellent illustrations. This is going on my wishlist.

Looking for a more unusual Christmas story this year? Here’s one about an adorable little frog who takes advantage of an empty house for Christmas. Except soon word gets out and more and more animals arrive at this sweet vacation animal Airbnb. With chaos about to take over, frog lays down some house rules. But what will they do when two humans enter the yard and spot them inside? The rhymes are cute, the illustrations are wonderful and I laughed at the animals’ solution. Make sure to read through the last page to see the picture of the little frog who inspired the tale. B+

I was granted access to an eARC of The Frog at the Window by Shake the Moon Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has not swayed my opinion. My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

The Frog at the Window is the adorable rhyming tale of local wildlife settling in as unlikely roommates for the holidays while Katy and her family are away at her grandmother's house. The story is so fun and charming, complete with a cute reference to Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, and I love how the illustrations add to the literary nods. (The fox in the Robin Hood outfit was my favourite!)

I can see this becoming a cherished Christmas favourite for countless kids and families, and I will absolutely make sure the parents and teachers in my life know about it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shake The Moon Books for my copy of The Frog at the Window by Scott Langteau, it published November 3, 2020.
What a creative and fun winter book! Although it's technically Christmas, I think you could totally count this as a winter book! And the little picture of the frog made the three children I was reading to very excited!
This rhyming book has a nice, readable cadence, with lots of heart and humor. The illustrations are unique, colorful and gorgeous. The lend for lots of extra gazing, trying to find all the animals and all the activities they are doing.
I think this would make a great gift for any person who enjoys picture books!

Such a fun and unique Christmas story. It's very hard to find holiday books that aren't reindeer, Santa, snowmen and penguins. This was a fun find. My 8 year old loved it and we will definitely be reading it a few times this Christmas season. A magical story and great illustration

If you have a lover of animals, they would probably enjoy this Christmas story. Where the wildlife live together in harmony inside a young girl's home to celebrate Christmas..
"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

What a hilarious, romping holiday tale! It starts with one frog seeking out a warm place to stay during Christmas, and he finds a whole house to takeover all by himself when Katy's family leaves for their Christmas week plans. Little does Frog know, all the other wild forest animals are going to come takeover his vacation pad.

SUPER FUN and CUTE! Would appeal to both boys and girls alike.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest opinion.

The illustrations in this book are so colorful and bright, they were awesome. This is a fun book about a group of animals making themselves a home in a house while the family is away. It is a fun Christmas tale to share with your little ones.

Thank you NetGalley for the DRC.