The Best Children’s Books About Amphibians for Learning and Coloring

Written by Angie Menjivar
Updated: April 20, 2023
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They have smooth, slimy skin and tend to vocalize. Amphibians are interesting creatures that breathe through their skin (sometimes they use their lungs too!). If you live in an area where your child has spotted a frog, you know that curiosity goes a long way. There are some amazing children’s books about amphibians you can explore with your favorite young reader. Some books contain fun facts while others incorporate activities like word searches and coloring pages.

The first book we highlight in the list below is a beautiful story about friendship. It’s perfect for young readers who are ready to expand their vocabulary and reading comprehension. The next books incorporate activities to keep little ones engaged. There are so many facts about amphibians to learn, especially when a book is dedicated to a specific type of frog, like the African dwarf frog. We selected books for beginners and frog enthusiasts too!

  1. Frog and Toad are Friends
    • 64 pages.
    • Customers recommend this book for children ages 5 through 7.
    • The first book in the classic Frog and Toad series of children's books.
    Check Amazon
  2. Facts About The African Dwarf Frogs
    • 40 pages.
    • Recommended for children ages 6 through 8.
    • An educational picture book.
    • Includes coloring pages for children.
    Check Amazon
  3. Axolotl!: Fun Facts About the World's Coolest Salamander
    • 38 pages.
    • Customers recommend this book for children ages 6 through 10.
    • Teaches readers about the fascinating axolotl and its unique history and natural abilities.
    Check Amazon
  4. Axolotl Coloring Book For Kids With Facts
    • 60 pages.
    • A coloring book with simple shapes for younger kids.
    • No back-to-back pages.
    Check Amazon
  5. I Am a Frog
    • 44 pages.
    • Features large images and print.
    • Great for reading aloud.
    • Follows a tree frog to show its importance to people and the environment.
    Check Amazon
  6. Fanatical About Frogs
    • 40 pages.
    • Customers recommend this book for children ages 3 through 6.
    • Available in hardcover or paperback
    • Explains concepts to young minds in a fun way
    • Parents rate this frog book 4.9 out of five stars
    Check Amazon

A-Z Animals Top Picks for Children’s Books About Amphibians

#1 Best Overall: Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel

The best overall children’s book about amphibians is Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel.

This book is available in paperback and Kindle formats. It’s a story that celebrates how powerful friendship is. Frog and Toad are two friends who are always present for one another. They write letters to each other, they tell different stories, and they are the best of friends. This is the type of book that is for children who enjoy reading on their own but may still need a little bit of your help. This book is great at home and in the classroom and because it has longer sentences, it’s the type of book that takes your child to the next reading level.

This book is a part of the series and this one, in particular, is fabulously entertaining and packed with tons of humor. There are wonderful illustrations that accompany the story and bring these characters to life for kids. It’s suitable for children between five and seven years old. This series by Arnold Lobel has won tons of awards and honors. It’s definitely worth exploring some of his other works. These are stories about friendship and mischief and keep kids entertained while teaching them how to advance their understanding of language.

Pros and Cons of Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel

ProsCons
This book celebrates the power of friendship.None
It features stunning illustrations that bring the story and the characters to life.
It is suitable for children aged five to seven.
There are Kindle and paperback formats available.
Best Overall
Frog and Toad are Friends
  • 64 pages.
  • Customers recommend this book for children ages 5 through 7.
  • The first book in the classic Frog and Toad series of children's books.
Check Amazon

2. Best Picture Book: Facts About the African Dwarf Frogs by Lisa Strattin

In our opinion, the best picture book is Facts About the African Dwarf Frogs by Lisa Strattin.

If you are ready to get your kiddo focused on a specific type of frog, this one is awesome. It’s a picture book about the African dwarf frog. It’s available in paperback and Kindle formats. Lisa Strattin is the author, and she has a history of best-selling books. This book is educational, including tons of facts and full-color photographs. Strattin has carefully chosen each of the words incorporated into this book to gently and thoroughly teach children about the African dwarf frog. Your kids uncover the type of fun facts that keep them engaged from start to finish.

This book is best for children between six and eight years old, but some younger children may still enjoy it, so long as you read through it with them. The only drawback to this book is that it is quite short and doesn’t contain much information.

Pros and Cons of Facts About the African Dwarf Frogs by Lisa Strattin

ProsCons
This is an educational book about the American dwarf frog.It is short and doesn’t contain a lot of information.
It includes full-color photographs,
It is suitable for children aged between six and eight years old.
There are Kindle and paperback editions available.
Best Picture Book
Facts About The African Dwarf Frogs
  • 40 pages.
  • Recommended for children ages 6 through 8.
  • An educational picture book.
  • Includes coloring pages for children.
Check Amazon

3. Best for Fun Facts: Axolotl!: Fun Facts About the World’s Coolest Salamander by Susan Mason

If you’re looking for a book that’s filled with fun facts then we suggest Axolotl!: Fun Facts About the World’s Coolest Salamander by Susan Mason.

This next book is all about the world’s coolest salamander. It’s a picture book and is available in paperback and Kindle formats. It invites your kids into the world of salamanders. Your kiddo gets a chance to show off all of the coolest salamander facts after reading this book. It’s super colorful and helps your kids enjoy learning while they share some really fun facts about this very oddly named creature.

Your kids get a chance to discover why Axolotl is so awesome in this introductory book. Within, you discover Axolotl’s special healing ability as well as its very, very old link with mythology. Kids discover why salamanders have two ways to reproduce and they learn all about their camouflage ability. That’s definitely not all, but it gives you a taste and sense of what this book is about.

Again, the only drawback to this book is that it is short.

Pros and Cons of Axolotl!: Fun Facts About the World’s Coolest Salamander by Susan Mason

ProsCons
This is a picture book about salamanders.The book is short.
It discovers the link between the axolotl and mythology.
It explains fun facts, such as how they reproduce and how they camouflage themselves.
There are Kindle and paperback editions available.
Best for Fun Facts
Axolotl!: Fun Facts About the World's Coolest Salamander
  • 38 pages.
  • Customers recommend this book for children ages 6 through 10.
  • Teaches readers about the fascinating axolotl and its unique history and natural abilities.
Check Amazon

4. Best for Coloring: Axolotl Coloring Book for Kids With Facts by A. Annaoui

When you’ve had enough text, it’s nice to get a little bit of relaxing time with a nice coloring book, and that’s why we recommend Axolotl Coloring Book for Kids With Facts by A. Annaoui.

This book comes in paperback format and is an ideal choice for young Axolotl lovers. There are tons of fun pages with plenty of coloring pages as well. This is a fun family activity book that provides endless hours of fun for your family. There are no back-to-back pages, which means that you can always pull one of your favorite pages out to use as needed. Markers tend to bleed through coloring pages so being able to pull one of these pages out to color it in on your own is a huge plus.

The book measures 8.5” x 11,” which is perfect because it is the same size as regular notebooks. It’s also perfect because when your kids are done, you can frame them to turn their coloring into wall art. There’s also a page in the book where your kiddo gets to put his or her name in and enter any other pertinent information. All of the designs in this coloring book are unique and beautiful (there are zero repeats). The printing is high resolution, and the shapes are super simple, which makes it easy for even the youngest kiddos to enjoy.

Pros and Cons of Axolotl Coloring Book for Kids With Facts by A. Annaoui

ProsCons
This book features numerous images of Axolotls to be colored in.None
There are no back-to-back pages and each page can be pulled out to prevent the color from bleeding through to the next image.
The illustrations are suitable for young children.
Best for Coloring
Axolotl Coloring Book For Kids With Facts
  • 60 pages.
  • A coloring book with simple shapes for younger kids.
  • No back-to-back pages.
Check Amazon

5. Most Educational: I Am a Frog: A Book About Frogs for Kids by Rebecca McDonald and James McDonald

I Am a Frog: A Book About Frogs for Kids by Rebecca McDonald and James McDonald is a wonderfully educational book for children.

This book is available in paperback and Kindle formats. It’s part of the “I Am Learning” educational series and helps children understand a little bit more about amphibians. In this book, your kiddo gets to follow along with the life of a tree frog. The book highlights not just the life of the tree frog but also how important it is for the lives of humans and the overall environment. Transformation is a part of a kid’s life, and this book follows this little frog from the beginning of his metamorphosis all the way to his first hop onto solid ground.

Unfortunately, some customers reported that their book arrived damaged with a torn cover.

Pros and Cons of I Am a Frog: A Book About Frogs for Kids by Rebecca McDonald and James McDonald

ProsCons
This book is part of the the “I Am Learning” educational series.Some customers received a damaged book.
It follows the life of the tree frog from metamorphosis to his first hop.
It highlights how tree frogs are important for the environment.
There are Kindle and paperback editions available.
Most Educational
I Am a Frog
  • 44 pages.
  • Features large images and print.
  • Great for reading aloud.
  • Follows a tree frog to show its importance to people and the environment.
Check Amazon

6. Best for Young Enthusiasts: Fanatical About Frogs by Owen Davey

The best option for young frog fanatics is Fanatical About Frogs by Owen Davey.

This book is ideal for kids between three and six years old and makes a wonderful companion for homeschooling. It’s also great in the classroom. It incorporates tons of bright illustrations and delivers tons of fun facts that kids enjoy. It’s basically a guide to animals written by a wonderful author who has written several other books in the “About Animals” series. This book explains to children that there are over 4,000 known species of frogs. The author goes on to explain that some are super tiny, and others are so much larger than kids can even imagine. This book invites your children into a diverse world of amphibians in a very fun and fantastical way.

Pros and Cons of Fanatical About Frogs by Owen Davey

ProsCons
This book contains numerous fascinating facts about frogs.
It features bright illustrations to help children engage with the book.
It explains that there are large frogs and small frogs.
It is suitable for children aged three to six.
Best for Young Enthusiasts
Fanatical About Frogs
  • 40 pages.
  • Customers recommend this book for children ages 3 through 6.
  • Available in hardcover or paperback
  • Explains concepts to young minds in a fun way
  • Parents rate this frog book 4.9 out of five stars
Check Amazon

Criteria: What to Look For in Children’s Books About Amphibians

There are a couple of different types of children’s books about amphibians you can explore.

Reading Level

What you read to a baby, what a toddler starts deciphering, and what older readers enjoy are all different categories. The reading level is a super important factor to consider before you invest in children’s books about amphibians. Children should be able to follow along with a fact-filled book or a fictional story rather easily. Older children who are working on improving their reading comprehension and vocabulary words do well with slightly more complex books. These books serve as a figurative escalator that transports them to a new reading level altogether.

Fiction vs. Non-Fiction

Fictional stories about amphibians take your kids into an imaginative world. These books follow fictional narratives with creative characters that share their experiences with your kids. Some of these books are just silly stories to make your kids laugh while others carry an important message like the ‘best overall’ book we highlighted above. In that story, your child’s reading level is challenged gently while they learn about the importance of friendship.

With and Without Activities

Activities are super fun for kiddos, but activity books are only appropriate sometimes. For example, if you hand a book about amphibians over to your kid and they come across a coloring page, you better hope you have some crayons or colored pencils on hand! Kids really enjoy these books but if they need extras, they’re going to want to enjoy it all at once and you’re the one who makes the magic happen for them. Other books are text and images only, which don’t require any extras and can keep your kiddos’ attention focused solely on the book itself.

About the Author

Angie Menjivar is a writer at A-Z-Animals primarily covering pets, wildlife, and the human spirit. She has 14 years of experience, holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and continues her studies into human behavior, working as a copywriter in the mental health space. She resides in North Carolina, where she's fallen in love with thunderstorms and uses them as an excuse to get extra cuddles from her three cats.

The Best Children’s Books About Amphibians for Learning and Coloring FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What is considered an amphibian?

Frogs and toads are amphibians as well as salamanders and newts! Amphibians are animals that are capable of living on both land and in water.

Is a snake considered an amphibian?

No, snakes are reptiles. Reptiles also include crocodiles, turtles, and lizards. Amphibians have smooth, slimy skin and snakes have scaly skin. They do, however, share some characteristics. For example, both reptiles and amphibians are cold-blooded!

What are the seven main characteristics of amphibians?

Great question! Some of the characteristics amphibians share is that they’re cold-blooded vertebrates. Amphibians can breathe through their skin, and they have complex life cycles. Many (though not all) amphibians vocalize as well. Their skin is slimy and smooth, not scaly like reptiles. Amphibians also fertilize their eggs externally!

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