The children must find their way home and so must follow the paths behind the stone frogs. It’s enjoyable for an adult reader, though it is a little simple. The story itself is, well, meant for a five-year-old. They almost felt animated, their clothing had such movement.
So, it’s pretty obvious that I loved the art right? These images are sumptuous and detailed and just so pretty. If Nytra does have a contemporary idol, I think it’s Miyazaki, the legendary Japanese animator behind Studio Ghibli and My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Spirited Away. Because it’s a complete throwback to older comics and stories. The art in The Stone Frog is, quite frankly, unlike anything I’ve seen in contemporary comics. I didn’t know all of that before I started reading The Secret of the Stone Frog, but it’s easy to see that it’s true now.
Toon Books has some big players in charge, including Art Spiegelman, the artist and author of the classic graphic novel Maus. Toon Books is a new-ish comics/graphic novels imprint that is meant for children ages 4 and up and The Secret of the Stone Frog by David Nytra is their first full-length book meant for children ages 5 and up. The Secret of the Stone Frog by David Nytra (Toon Books/Candlewick Press, 2012)
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