Sleigh Bells in Springtime

About the Book

"Sleigh Bells in Springtime" [Frogs Calling] is the story of a young girl who searches for the source of a sound and finds so much more:  a love of frogs, a sense of place, quality time with her father and her sister, and the opportunity to participate in actual citizen science.  Written in vivid verse with fun illustrations, "Sleigh Bells" connects to both the young and young at heart, inspiring people connect with spring peepers and a chorus of other calls, which, without the concerted effort of all of us, may be silenced forever.   A fun story with many layers of depth, like the pond itself, "Sleigh Bells" ring, and it's great to read, read-aloud, or listen. 

About the Author

Jessica R. Kratz is no stranger to the places frogs call home.  As a child growing up in Staten Island, New York, she learned to enjoy nature, strolling, hiking, picnicking, and even sailing with her father in the "borough of parks".  But the place she came to love most of all is the Staten Island Greenbelt.  The trails, and the ponds and swamps along side them, kept calling to her, making her want to come back for more.  And indeed she kept coming back:  for two summers at YMCA day camp at Camp Pouch, for occasional weekend hikes with her father, as a teenage volunteer junior counselor at High Rock Park.  But even with all those forest-filled days, it was not until the spring of 2001 when, as an AmeriCorps member leading hikes around Loosestrife Swamp, did she first hear the delightful, though sometimes deafening sleigh bell trill of spring peepers.  And aside from learning to enjoy nature, growing up three miles from the former Fresh Kills landfill, Jessica has always been keenly aware of mankind's power to destroy nature, and in recent years, has become concerned by the impact of habitat loss, climate change, and other environmental factors, on frog species worldwide.  This passion for nature and sense of social responsibility has brought Jessica to a career with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, where she has been able to play a role in the greening of the Big Apple. A Master Composter, avid hiker, and citizen science enthusiast, Jessica draws inspiration for her poems, stories, and essays from her experiences in nature, especially parks.  Nature is Jessica's gym and her muse, and there will certainly be more to come in the future.