The Frog’s First Song

By Jazz Money & Jason Phu

Reviewed by Lara Cain Gray

The Frog’s First Song is a visually arresting and thematically joyful picture book that celebrates connection. Written by award-winning Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money and illustrated by three-time Archibald Prize finalist Jason Phu, the story begins in a dark well, where a lonely frog croaks a song into the silence. That lone croaky voice is soon joined by others, and a community of frogs clambers to the surface to sing in the moonlight. There, they are welcomed by the moon whose gentle glow becomes a spotlight on their nightly singing stage. The more frogs join the chorus, the more we see the world around them come to life with flowers, trees and rock circles forming a friendly village.

This lyrical narrative draws inspiration from First Nations stories and Chinese parables. Whilst it can be read literally, it can also be enjoyed as a metaphor; whether as a creation story, or as a contemporary invitation to us all to come out of the darkness and join up our communities to develop a more harmonious society.

Phu’s illustrations are unique, conjuring psychedelia or faux-naif energy, whilst being utterly engaging. Do the frogs look like frogs? No. So, why? What a terrific opportunity to discuss art styles, connotation and symbolism with young readers. This book will be useful in classrooms across age ranges for activities around perspective, as the viewpoint shifts throughout. It is also ideal for discussing what cultural storytelling can look like beyond the more familiar examples or stereotypes.

Teacher’s Notes

UQP 2025

https://jazz.money/

https://www.jasonphu.com/