-gentle, soft, beautiful illustrations that bring the animals to life
-full of laugh-out-loud situations and coincidences
-positive message about the consequences of one’s actions
-engaging, uplifting and surprising situations that allow parents and educators to engage children in many different ways
-includes specially written music and lyrics about the main character
-rhyming text helps children develop their artistic skills
-humorous but suspenseful story which allows parents or teachers to interact with children about what will happen next

Frog Crush is set in the African savannah. The story follows the short journey of five animals in the midday sun while they are trying to find something to eat. The scene opens with the sight of a frog sitting on a lily pad and feeling very hungry. Then an emotive fish who is sniffing away, a furry fly, a two-meter-long crocodile dreaming of an ocean cruise and Mr Hippo waddling along singing his favourite song, all enter the story, and the fun begins. The facial expressions of the animals are full of character and wit and the image at the end of the book with the accidental crush between a frog, a fish, a fly, a hippo and a crocodile all looking dazed makes this story set in the savannah unforgettable. Everyone escapes unhurt, though still hungry.
Frog Crush has a positive message, that something good can come out of an unexpected situation. It creates a lively discussion point where parents and teachers can explore with their children and learn about how animals live in Africa. It also encourages a conversation that can focus on more serious themes about the circle of life and the need of animals to hunt smaller animals.

Ian always believed that poetry should be entertaining and inventive and more importantly fun and make children laugh whilst they are in fact learning. His skills as a parent of four have helped form the basis of The Crush Series books to help engage more with children and to entertain them and develop their imagination and creativity.

Silke draws with pastel colours reminiscent of Beatrix Potter. She has a very special skill in making the animals in The Crush Series see the world in a certain way, which gives the reader an understanding of what is going on in the animals’ head just by a mere visual expression. Silke’s ability to take the author’s words and bring them to life in a humorous way is unique. Her use of pastel colours and soft, beautiful illustrations that give depth, is in contrast to many children’s books today.