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"Bernardo the frog loves dawn, and the birdsong that carries the woods into each new day. But it's the very beauty of birdsong that also highlights for him the insufficiency of his own croaking voice, and this makes him sad."--
About the author
Mk Smith Despres writes, teaches, and reads lots of books with their family in western Massachusetts, where the stars are particularly bright and the night song is especially beautiful.
Hyewon Yum is an author and illustrator of many picture books, including The Happiness of a Dog with a Ball in Its Mouth, which was named a Best Children's Book of 2021 by the New York Times; The Twins' Blanket, a Junior Library Guild selection; and Mom, It's My First Day of Kindergarten!, which won the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator award and was selected as a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her family.
Summary
A sad sack frog, who bemoans his inability to sing like a bird, discovers the vital role he's meant to play in his woodland home in this debut picture book from Mk Smith Despres, gorgeously illustrated by award-winning artist Hyewon Yum.
A Finalist for the 2024 New England Book Award, Best Picture Book!
Every morning as the sun rises, Bernardo the frog loves greeting the day by listening to the beautiful birdsong that fills the woods with joy. Inspired, Bernardo attempts to sing, too... but his croaking voice doesn't quite have the same effect. No matter what he does, Bernardo feels graceless and like he just doesn't add up. Dejected and down in the dumps, Bernardo sees no place for himself, until a woodland neighbor praises the hushed sounds that dusk brings, thus awakening Bernardo to his place in the woods' great symphony.
Foreword
• Social media campaign
• Dedicated newsletter to 10K subscribers
• IG live conversation with Mk & Hyewon
• Bookstore launches in western Massachusetts and New York
• Wide circulation of advance copies to trade and consumer media and indie bookstores
• School visits
• Printing in Italy: the paper, binding, ink, and color quality will be exceptional.
