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Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Featuring animals as main characters, Denise Danzo's Toadalina is a delightful children's adventure tale. When young Maddy discovers that the little frog doll she recently received as a gift can actually talk, she can hardly believe it. Maddy has asthma, which stops her from becoming a dancer. Toadalina starts telling Maddy her story. The first thing Toadalina saw after she was born was the Tree O' Academy of Dance in the great Redwood Forest. Despite everyone insisting that frogs can't dance, Toadalina eventually learned to dance. Years later, Toadalina and her best friend Swanella traveled to New York City to audition for the Broadway musical Cats. Even after failing their auditions, Toadalina and Swanella learned different styles of dance, made some unforgettable friends, and escaped the clutches of a nefarious street boss.
Author Denise Danzo tells an enthralling tale with a valuable message about self-belief. Toadalina encourages young readers to chase their dreams and use setbacks as opportunities to learn new things. I loved the characters in this book. They are colorful and full of personality. The fact that most of these characters are animals makes them even more appealing to young readers. Apart from enjoying the friendship between Toadalina and Swanella, I found the Lavender Legwarmers' clique truly hilarious. Toadalina and Swanella's adventures in New York City, including learning different styles of dance, were some of the other highlights for me. The story is full of charm, heart, and humor. The illustrations are the cherry on top, breathing life into the characters. It's a fantastic book for preteen readers.
