Froggy Went A-Courtin'

A romantic ballad first sung over four centuries ago is the starting point for this book wherein we follow the story of Froggy and his beloved Miss Mouse from courtship and marriage to the honeymoon. During the course of the romance we meet numerous anthropomorphised minibeasts and small wayside creatures who dance attendance upon the happy couple. A great deal of thought has obviously gone into the design of the book. The whole thing has a whimsical old-fashioned feel with a gold, Victorian style font, framed rectangular illustrations superimposed onto an ivory coloured, floral wallpaper background and vignettes. The illustrations are full of minute detail - a tiny tea set, bobbins and cocktail drinks - all exquisitely executed in pen and ink and all very much a labour of love. While I'm sure that some children will be drawn into, and fascinated by, the myriad of minute detail of the illustrations, it is difficult to see the rhyme itself sustaining mass interest and one wonders who the book is really for.