Freddy the Frog hops onto the Connecticut Book Festival Podcast in this lively episode featuring debut author-illustrator Devon (DL) Torres.  Jedlie welcomes Devon from Hartford to talk about his joyful new rhyming picture book, “Freddy the Frog,” a story all about confidence, imagination, and good old-fashioned playground fun.

Devon describes Freddy as a confident, energetic frog who’s always ready for the next adventure: “I want to do this, I want to do that—come along if you want!” Through Freddy’s playful leadership, the book celebrates unstructured playtime—the kind many adults remember from childhood, before screens and tightly scheduled activities took over. Devon hopes his story will inspire both kids and parents to rediscover the magic of just going outside, meeting new friends, and making up games on the fly.

As an illustrator who writes, Devon talks about his creative journey—from pencil sketches and Bob Ross–inspired oil paintings to vivid digital art. The book’s illustrations are bright, textured, and scenic, with landscapes and sunsets that feel almost real while still being delightfully cartoony. The cast is made up of different animal characters, reflecting diversity without focusing on race directly.

Devon also teases his upcoming “Friendables” series, where background animal characters will each get their own story, some with playful plots and others with more educational goals, like learning numbers through rhyme and repetition.

Listeners can find “Freddy the Frog” on Amazon under DL Torres, and follow him on Play Pages LLC on Facebook and Instagram.