''Toad Rage'' is a children's novel by Australian author
Morris Gleitzman
Morris Gleitzman (born 9 January 1953) is an English-born Australian author of children's and young adult fiction.[Puffin Books
Puffin Books is a longstanding children's imprint of the British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s, it has been among the largest publishers of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world. The imprint now belongs t ...]
.
Plot summary
Limpy, a young cane toad who narrowly escapes from becoming
roadkill, enters the gates of the Olympic Games and finds a sweet girl who once again saves him from being squashed. Limpy tries and fails to have cane toads become the
Sydney Olympic mascots. Limpy finally finds a way to protect his family from the terror of the highway. Soon, Limpy's plan succeeds, and cane toads everywhere (or almost everywhere) are safe again.
Sequels
This book was followed by four other books: ''
Toad Away'', ''
Toad Heaven'', ''
Toad Surprise'', and ''
Toad Delight''.
Reception
Reviews for ''Toad Rage'' were positive, with ''
Publishers Weekly
''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...
'' describing the book as "saucy fun from start to finish". The ''School Library Journal'' review notes the adventurous story and the colourful use of Australian slang (with a glossary in the back) as being key to a "hugely funny read". A review of the audiobook by SLJ recommends it for boys and reluctant readers due to the "gross-out" humour. The ''Washington Post'' review gives some context of how
cane toads in Australia
The cane toad in Australia is regarded as an exemplary case of a " feral species", including rabbits, foxes, cats, and dogs, among others. Australia's relative isolation prior to European colonisation and the industrial revolution, both of w ...
are viewed and notes some practices might make readers squeamish but otherwise recommends the book. A reviewer for Kirkus Reviews described ''Toad Rage'' as "both solid entertainment and a barbed commentary on the importance of looks". A reviewer for Booklist recommends it for grades 3-6 and says it will give readers "plenty of laughs".
References
Further reading
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*Sheahan-Bright, Robyn (2000) "Irreverence for Sacred Cows"
Australian Book Review () (), no. 218 February–March, 2000 p. 53-54.
*Harrison,Peta (2000) "Untitled Review" Fiction Focus : New Titles for Teenagers (), vol. 14 no. 2, 2000 p. 29
*Zahnleiter,Joan (2000) "Untitled Review" Reading Time : The Journal of the
Children's Book Council of Australia () (), vol. 44 no. 2 May 2000 p. 17
*Read, Maggie (2001) "Untitled Review" Fiction Focus : New Titles for Teenagers (), vol. 15 no. 3, 2001 p. 49-50
1999 novels
1999 children's books
Australian children's novels
Books about frogs
Novels by Morris Gleitzman
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