Once upon a time in a dull, grey, endless place called Cementland, there lived a very special boy who wishes to find a treasure. After much searching among piles of greasy ovens and wet, smelly socks, he spies a box filled with specks and a wrinkled note that says, "Put these wondrous riches in the earth and enjoy." Horrified to learn that thieves are after his treasure, the boy scours the junkyard and conjures a creature to stand guard - a scarecrow-like gardener with crooked bony arms, a giant belly, a jaunty crown and preternatural wisdom: Frog Belly Rat Bone, King and Protector of the Specks.

 

This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2004 by Walker Books Ltd .

Timothy Basil Ering says that the story of Frog Belly Rat Bone was inspired by a visit to the botanical gardens in Pasadena, California. Timothy's work has appeared in books, magazines, theatre sets and fine art galleries, though this is his first picture book. He lives in Massachusetts, USA.