Hip-pocket papa

A male hip-pocket frog ducks beneath a button-sized mushroom cap. It's a tiny space, but since he's no bigger than a thumbnail, he fits with room to spare. Settling there, he croaks in a creaky voice: Eh! Eh! Eh! Eh! Eh! Eh! Nearby, a female hip-pocket frog hears her mate and crawls away to find a meal. For the past eight nights and days, the pair has guarded this bit of forest floor together. Now the male focuses his golden eyes on one small spot on the leaf litter.There, beneath a covering of orange and brown leaves, is a glob of glistening jelly studded with a dozen pearl-like eggs--the tiny parents' developing brood. Excerpted from Hip-Pocket Papa by Sandra Markle All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.