This book is about a young frog who almost gets in trouble almost all of the time but hardly ever passes up the opportunity to meet new swamp critters including two children who have totally different opinions of frogs. Almost Hardly learns about the abundant rewards and occasional dangers of curiosity as well as the value of persistence and perseverance. Our illustrator has captured Almost's close calls vividly and memorably. The story is told in the poetic dialect we call "Swamp Talk," the use of which reinforces the idea that there is nothing to be ashamed of about speaking your own...