#BookReview - Back Roads, Country Toads

Back Roads, Country Toads

By: Devin Scillian
Illustrated by: Tim Bowers
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: July 2019
ISBN: 978-1534110397
Reviewed by: Gina Montanha
Review Date: October 2019 

Two friendly little hat-wearing, strawberry soda-drinking, country toads are at the center of this amusing little tale of adventure and misunderstanding. Hank and Buckaroo aren’t the smartest little hoppers, but they sure do know how to have a good time! When they overhear a conversation about some country folks going FLY-fishing, they know they have to sneak along and be part of the feast of flies. 

“Fly-fishing!” croaked Buckaroo. “It’s going to be the
greatest day of our lives!”
“Toadally,” agreed Hank.

Hank and Buckaroo hide themselves among a treat filled picnic basket, embark on a ride down Highway 41 in the back of a pick-up truck and end up in the woods near a fish-filled stream. When they run into their friend Emmitt the raccoon, they get a lesson on what fly-FISHing is really all about – and they are confused but not discouraged! To Hank and Buckaroo’s great delight, and not so much to Emmitt’s, they figure out a way to have a fly feast after all.

Illustrator Tim Bowers has crafted wonderful little creatures, with the focus of the drawings being on the animals rather than the people. His toads are full of personality and their facial expressions are priceless. He does especially funny and creative things with the toads’ tongues, which are sure to elicit giggles from young readers.

Quill says: Back Roads, Country Toads is cute and comical, sure to entertain readers of all ages. There’s something to be said about making lemonade out of lemons...or in this case, catching flies out of fly-fishing.