Wednesday, 9 October 2024

 At last - the froglets are on their way

October 2024

Much much later than expected the tiny froglets are gathering on the lawn and hopping their way over to their favourite spot - under the honeysuckle, against a wall with plenty of cover and most often wet.


I really didn't think they were going to leave the pond this year but lots of them decided 7 months was late enough. Still VERY tiny though, as you'll see if you click through to this short video.


Tiny froglet leaves pond. Paul Morton author illustrator


Wednesday, 3 April 2024

 Strange happenings in the frog pond. 

August 2024

Or rather it's NOT happening. By now the tadpoles should have turned into little froglets and be running around all over the garden.

But they are still in the pond and although they have advanced since gaining their gills (see previous post) the majority haven’t even developed any legs or arms yet. Only one or two of them have their back legs, see photo.


There is a known condition where, if the circumstances in the pond aren’t just right, the tadpoles don’t change and they will over-winter in the pond and hopefully metamorphose next year.

It’s gonna get crowded in there come next Spring!!

I'll keep you posted.

close up up developing tadpole. Bug Belly the frog

close up of resources sheet for Bug Belly the frog.


This little taddie is 4 weeks old and now has external gills. The frilly bits on either side of it's head. 

close up photo of tadpole and external gills


 Here's what the tadpoles look like in my pond today. April 3rd 2024

these are 4 weeks old. Click the image for video and keep checking back for more.

tadpoles wriggling in pond


Monday, 31 May 2021

! HAPPY WORLD FROG DAY !

Worlds smallest frog on World Frog Day, Paul Morton author illustrator

How many frogs in the world, World Frog Day

Graphic panel showing world's most poisonous  frog



! HAPPY WORLD BOOK DAY !
Look out for the following offer at 
The Book Corner in Saltburn-by-the-sea


Book a FREE Zoom school visit with Paul
contact Paul - hot.frog@me.com
Or contact me direct for in-person readings and craft events. See my events page too. for the latest news on my recent visits.


This is where you'll find loads of fun, froggy crafts and exciting activities. 

This didn't cost as much as the popular Christmas videos on TV, but hope you like it just as much! 




Brand new video added






Picture showing stages of frogs developing


Maybe you're looking for
or
Scroll down this page for lots more free stuff. Then when you've done exploring also check out the tab links at the top of this page too. Have fun!

  LATEST NEWS  

Froggy Rescue shortlisted for award
I am so very pleased and proud to share the news that Bug Belly Froggy Rescue has been shortlisted with 3 other amazing titles for this year's Lancashire School Library Service Brilliant Book Awards (BBA). What an honour! And and what excellent titles to be rubbing shoulders and book spines with. Look at these brilliant titles. Good luck everyone and fingers crossed for Bug Belly!





Draw like a professional illustrator by copying what you see in the bottom picture into the grid squares above. It's a great method to practice drawing. You could even GO LARGE and make a giant copy of the exact same grid, and then make a giant copy of Bug Belly and pals on the lily leaf. 

Bug Belly A4 resource sheet grid sketching







Frogspawn sightings moving up the country.


map showing frogspawn sightings 2022









Let's celebrate our more than 8,400 frogs and toad species by learning about these colourful little tree frogs. I've created these fun FREE frog models for you to download, colour, cut out and assemble. Each frog comes with full instructions plus there's also a video available.

Let's make tree frogs with Paul Morton



Why not curl up with a copy of Babysitting Trouble and challenge yourself to Bug Belly i-Spy!? Can you find 30 images that are scattered throughout the book. Some are easy some are really tricky. How many can you find?
Two new free downloads now available.







The BIG news is that the second book in the series will be published later this year. BUG BELLY FROGGY RESCUE has all your favourite characters, plus a few different baddies! It's an exciting and dangerous rescue mission. More details coming soon.



  TURKISH PUBLICATION  
Say Merhabe (hello in Turkish) to Koca Göbek. Bug Belly has been published in Turkey and it is quite appropriate. The original idea for Bug Belly came to me in a game I played with my nephew in Bodrum, TurkeyHere's the cover and an inside spread. Doesn't it look great in Turkish!?

All images strictly copyright © Paul Morton

Saturday, 1 May 2021


This didn't cost as much as the popular Christmas videos on TV, but hope you like it just as much! 







Out on July 1st the second adventure in the series. This Bug Belly story tells of the dangerous and daring mission to try and rescue Splodge who has been snatched by Magpie. Will Bug Belly make his most daring and cleverest ever rescue plan to try to bring back poor Splodge?

A short video with step by step instructions for changing the expressions of your characters. Make them sad, happy, surprised, angry and finally ... WICKED! With a bonus section on adding textures to your baddies.



title of video making a folding booklet
An amazingly simple piece of paper folding magic.
First of all watch the video above to learn how to make it.
Then download the printed instructions.
Finally choose one of the FREE BUG BELLY ARTWORK TEMPLATES.
So far there are 2 to choose from.

booklet#1-Bug Belly's kit bag


booklet#2 is new. Frog/spawn life cycle




the Youtube video title showing froglets and tadpoles

Video #7- Great tips for getting good ideas for your stories. Then try Paul's Summer Reading Story Writing Challenge.





image advertising video for author Paul Morton reading from his Bug Belly book


Image showing author illustrator Paul Morton reading from his new book for children aged 5 to 8




header image advertising Paul Morton reading Bug Belly book part 4


Title image for a video showing Paul Morton drawing his character Bug Belly the frog





Monday, 19 October 2020

MAKE BUG BELLY'S FAVOURITE BUG SNACKS 

AND THEN EAT THEM!!

If you've read right to the very last page of Bug Belly Babysitting Trouble you will know that Bug Belly has some particular favourite bug snacks. Lava Pops and Worm Whirls are just two for example.

How would you like to make some of Bug Belly's favourite bug snacks?.. and then EAT THEM?? You can if you follow these delumptious edible bug recipes. The first three are available for downloading now, Worm Whirls, Chrysalis Candies and brand new FLY FUDGE! and all the rest to follow later.


Image of Bug Belly the frog's favourite bug snacks

Worm Whirls edible bugs recipe


Chrysalis Candies edible bugs recipe


Chrysalis Candies edible bugs recipe


Fly Fudge edible bugs recipe

Fly Fudge edible bugs recipe




.