The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone
By Timothy Basil Ering
The Story
In the gray junkyard world of Cementland, a boy discovers a box of mysterious specks and a note urging him to plant them — then builds a scarecrow-like guardian, Frog Belly Rat Bone, to protect them from thieves.
Why It's Special
For the kid who turns junk drawers into treasure chests and believes something magical is hiding in the pile of stuff nobody else looks at twice.
- Big idea: Wonder and growth can start in the most unlikely, overlooked places — even a gray, junk-filled world can hide something worth protecting.
- Vibes: surreal, dreamlike, and quietly hopeful, with a junkyard-fantasy glow
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy surreal, imaginative artwork
- like to invent characters out of found objects
- are working on patience and caring for something over time
- respond well to stories with a dreamlike, poetic rhythm
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: Why do you think the boy built Frog Belly Rat Bone to guard the specks?
- Imagination: If you found a mysterious box of specks in a junkyard, what would you imagine they could grow into?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think the boy felt when he realized thieves might be after his treasure?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever found something ordinary that felt like a treasure to you?
- Language & rhythm: What did you notice about the way the chant 'Frog Belly Rat Bone' sounds when you say it out loud?
