The Hula Painted Frog

This is a story of environmental hope. It is a story of resilience. It is a story of… a frog. In the 1950s, measures to control malaria led to the destruction of the Hula painted frog's unique marshy habitat along the River Jordan in Israel. Decades passed, and after trying many times to find the frog, scientists declared the species extinct. But in 2011, the frog leaped into the scientific spotlight when it reemerged in the waters of a small nature preserve. Against all the odds, the species had managed to survive, hidden from humans for more than fifty years in the grass and mud. This delightful picture book tells the story of the frog's miraculous return from the brink of extinction. Told from the perspective of one of the frogs, it is a heart-warming cautionary tale that will inspire children to care for and help protect the environment. AUTHOR: Amber A. Novak is a former outdoor educator from the redwood forests of California, where she taught elementary-aged children the 'proper' way to kiss a banana slug. Currently, she is a writer based in Austin, Texas, with a Bachelor of Science from Brown University and a Master's in Journalism from the University of Texas, Austin. Her freelance writing and photography covering social justice, music, environmental issues, and human interest has appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times, The Austin American-Statesman, The Washington Post and The Times. She now writes children's books on topics ranging from frogs to falafel. She is a Bread Loaf Writers Conference participant, a Wildacres Artist-in-Residence, a Highlights/PJ Library's 2023 Picture Book Summer Camp emerging author, and a PB Party 2024 finalist. Maya Gonen is an illustrator and graphic designer who prefers projects with social, environmental, or meaningful added value. She works with both traditional and digital techniques and is always happy to embark on new creative adventures. In 2024, a wordless picture book she illustrated was a finalist in the Silent Book Contest and exhibited at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Maya has a background in photography and co-founded an artist collective earlier in her career.

About the Author :
Amber A. Novak is a former outdoor educator from the redwood forests of California, where she taught elementary-aged children the ‘proper’ way to kiss a banana slug. Currently, she is a writer based in Austin, Texas, with a Bachelor of Science from Brown University and a Master’s in Journalism from the University of Texas, Austin. Her freelance writing and photography covering social justice, music, environmental issues, and human interest has appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times, The Austin American-Statesman, The Washington Post and The Times. She now writes children’s books on topics ranging from frogs to falafel. She is a Bread Loaf Writers Conference participant, a Wildacres Artist-in-Residence, a Highlights/PJ Library’s 2023 Picture Book Summer Camp emerging author, and a PB Party 2024 finalist. Maya Gonen is an illustrator and graphic designer who prefers projects with social, environmental, or meaningful added value. She works with both traditional and digital techniques and is always happy to embark on new creative adventures. In 2024, a wordless picture book she illustrated was a finalist in the Silent Book Contest and exhibited at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Maya has a background in photography and co-founded an artist collective earlier in her career.