by Moe Zilla

Created on: March 08, 2010

Davis, California is the star of a children's book that's based on a true story! "The Toads of Davis" even features a drawing of the Davis water tower, a local landmark, and a shout out to the local newspaper, the Davis Enterprise.  (In this book, it's some local toads who have started their own newspaper - the Toad Enterprise.) Proceeds of the books even go to a Davis nature preserve - the Grasslands Regional Park.  And of course, the book was written and illustrated by a local Davis author - a career painter "and creative soul" named Ted Puntillo.

Davis is a peaceful town, but Puntillo focuses his story on a different peaceful community - the family of toads that live in a pond on the town's outskirts. He draws them lounging on lily pads - one toad even naps in a hammock - and he shows one toad on a tiny cell phone having a conversation with his friend. "They also imitated the people of Davis by playing sports..." Puntillo writes, "in a toad sort of way." He's trying to establish that the animals had their own thriving community, suggesting whimsically that they also played golf, tennis, "and especially toad softball."

And when the toads were hungry, "they were very fond of toad pizza."

Soon the toads end up petitioning the city council to stop the construction of a new road that would bisect the toad's migrating trail. The city council agrees - adding a toad tunnel below the overpass. During its construction, there's even a toad crossing guard who ensures that the toads can still cross the road in safety. And a local resident even constructed a series of tiny frog-sized houses called "Toad Hollow" - where the toads could rest if they were tired from their travels.

It's a very simple story But behind the book is a serious philosophy. Its last page acknowledges an African saying that health of a community can be measured by the well-being of their smallest creatures. "The Toads of Davis is a children's tale," it concedes, but "it is also a true story of a community that is willing to ask, 'How are the smallest among us?' and to take action to assure the welfare of all."

But it's a message that's the book also delivers with a sense of fun. On the book's web site, a Yolo County Superior Court Judge announces it's a book "that will 'ribbit' you in your chair!"

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