In April 2026, PJ Library subscribers age 7 received The Hula Painted Frog, written by Amber Novak, illustrated by Maya Gonen, and published by Green Bean Books. The Hula Painted Frog is the incredible but true story of how a unique amphibian species was brought back from the brink of extinction. The entire story is told from the perspective of one adorable frog.
To celebrate the release of the book, Green Bean Books publisher Michael Leventhal traveled from London to the Hula Valley in northern Israel, where he got to meet the park ranger hero featured in it. Here he shares more about his adventure and how it felt to bring the book to life for PJ Library subscribers:
How did you hear the story of the Hula painted frog?
I didn’t know the Hula painted frog even existed until Amber Novak submitted her manuscript to us. It told the amazing story of how after it was presumed to be extinct, it was rediscovered in November 2011.
You recently traveled to the Hula valley. What was that like? Who did you meet? What did you talk about?
Travelling to the Hula valley was genuinely incredible. It is one of the most memorable trips that I’ve ever taken. To travel with the Israeli illustrator of the book and be welcomed by the lovely park ranger who rediscovered the frog was utterly thrilling.
Did you meet any Hula painted frogs?
Yes, we did! Ahead of the trip, the illustrator and I had no idea if we would, but not only did the park ranger show us a few, we got to hold them in the palm of our hands too. When we met them, we made a FaceTime call to the author in the USA. With the time difference, it was about 3 a.m.! She had actually told us in advance that she wanted to be woken up.
Why is this story important? Why is a picture book the right medium for sharing this remarkable discovery?
Firstly, I think this is a hopeful story. It shows that some of the decisions that humans have made are terrible and have consequences, but they can be reversed. We are learning. We aren’t perfect by any means, but there are reasons to be hopeful. Secondly, there’s an upbeat narrative. This book, perhaps uniquely, has a narrative told from a frog’s point of view. It’s a lot of fun. It is not a geography lesson slideshow, or documentary; it’s an accessible telling, with pictures, of an inspiring episode in Israeli history.
What surprised you about your chat with the park ranger who encountered the frog?
I was amazed that the park ranger, Yoram, was still working at the Hula Valley. He’s a kind, gentle man who is passionate about the Hula frog and the environment. He’s very calm, very charming, and has the best job in the world: ranger at one of the most gorgeous reserves in the world.
Tell us about the process of bringing this book to life. Was anything done differently from how you might typically tell a story?
We had to strike a balance between having the frog tell the story and being as accurate as possible. For instance, frogs don’t really smile, but I think the illustrator, Maya Gonen, did a great job in giving the frog a character that readers can enjoy and understand.
What was your trip to the Hula Valley like?
It was long! I had to take a train from Tel Aviv to a place I didn’t know, in the middle of nowhere. And not speaking Hebrew, I wasn’t even sure if I was in the right place. The illustrator and her husband scooped me up in their car at the train station and from there, it was a two-hour drive farther north to the reserve. On the way back, we stopped off at a roadside café where I had one of the best falafels I’ve ever had.
What did you learn over the course of publishing this book? What did you learn during your trip?
I learned some general information about the Hula Valley, and I got to see a part of Israel I normally wouldn’t get to.
What’s next for Green Bean Books?
It’s always a surprise, but I can say that we look forward to sharing more stories like this one, stories that are both original and inspiring.
July 27, 2026