Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

Congratulations to Pria Dee on the release of Freddy the Frog and the Three Wishes

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I love nature walks and often photograph the creatures I see on the way and one day I observed a little frog in the marshes and decided to write about him. I wanted it to be a relatable book as well as having some magical elements and Freddy’s story developed.

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

A couple of things : Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses and while Freddy may not be strong or big, he was still able to make the right decisions and save his town. Secondly, Freddy learns an important lesson about not being self-focused but instead to share his good fortune to help others.

Your love of animals and children inspire many of your books. Are there other inspirations for your stories?

I love living in Michigan and all the beautiful nature around us. So, I write a lot about turtles, frogs, and geese. I also find that our children are growing up in a digital world that creates anxiety. I hope to help children focus on wholesome activities such as reading, nature, and sports. My next book is a rhyming book about sports.

What are your marketing plans for the book?

The publisher is working on a social media marketing campaign. I hope to do school visits and attend writers' events as well.

What's next for you?

I hope to have two additional books published this year. Fingers crossed. My long term dream would be to both illustrate and write so I am trying to learn the art of digital illustration. It gives me new appreciation to my wonderful illustrators. David Lock illustrated Freddy’s story in water color and his illustrations are fantastic and an inspiration to me.

A little bit about the book . . .

Freddy is a small not very strong frog, who is often the brunt of jokes from his stronger and more popular siblings. Poor Freddy longs to be a strong swimmer and to be able to jump high, while playing with his friend Nora. One day Freddy finds a rare magical flower that grants him three wishes. Freddy of course wishes for all the things he longed for but discovers that they are not what he wanted after all!

Publisher: Austin Macaulay

A little bit about the author . . .

Pria Dee is an Indian American author, who lives in Michigan. She has published several children’s books based on her own experiences and observations. Her love of animals and children is the focus of many of her books. Learn more about Pria at: https://www.priadee.com/

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