On Feb. 7 Penguin Young Readers Group will release two new books for preschoolers.
The first is the latest in the popular Froggy series, more than 20 books which have sold a combined 4.3 million copies.. "Froggy's Worst Playdate" ($16.98), written by Jonathan London and illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz, will be especially appealing to young boys.
It's Saturday and Froggy is eager to play. None of his friends can join him. Max has to visit his grandmother. Matthew has gone off with his father to play golf. Travis has to stay home and have a tuba lesson. Froggy doesn't know what to do.
His mother has a solution. She tells Froggy to invite Frogilina to play. Froggy thinks this is a terrible idea. He can't have any fun with a girl. She won't want to play baseball or even want to play outside. Worst of all, she might try to kiss him. His friends will all make fun of him.
Froggy's father tells him to invite Frogilina and they will go to the movies. Froggy thinks this will work, but he makes his father promise to sit between them. As the day wears on, Froggy learns that Frogilina is actually fun and a good friend. Still, he doesn't think he'll tell Max or Matthew or Travis.
The second is "Robomop" ($16.99), written by Sean Taylor and illustrated by Edel Rodriguez. This is a modern story about a working robot.
Robomop has the job of cleaning the public restroom. He is good at his work, spending his days mopping, rubbing and scrubbing so that everything is gleaming clean.
But Robomop wants more. Every day when the window washer comes in and turns on his radio, Robomop does a joyful dance to the honky tonk sound. He keeps trying to get outside so he can see the sun and sky.
One day the owners of the building bring in a new robot who can clean and also clean windows. The owner carries Robomop outside and dumps him in the trash. Now Robomop has no home and no job.
He doesn't stay lonely for long. The window washer, who also lost his job, takes Robomop home to be the family robot. Robomop is happier than he has ever been, with work to do and music to hear all day. Best of all, his new family loves him.
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