At its core, Sarah Scheerger’s Operation Frog Effect celebrates standing up and standing together, and tells the unforgettable story of how a class of unlikely friends take responsibility for their actions and unite for a cause they all believe in. Because the audiobook features the perspectives of eight very different kids, the Penguin Random House Audio production team cast nine talented narrators to bring them each to life.
I had the wonderful opportunity to team up with the author, Sarah Scheerger, to replace some of the ‘heart’ of the book that would not translate to the audio format. For example one of the students, named Blake, has a perspective told mainly in comic strip entries—which add up to a graphic novel in their own right—that needed to be turned into text that could be read by Michael Crouch, who portrayed Blake in the audiobook. We were tasked to find a way to translate the graphics, which told an important part of the story from Blake’s perspective, into something entertaining, compelling, and in keeping with Blake’s particular form of expression–which was visual! All involved were committed to making this work on audio; Sarah and I braced for the procedure. We sat for several days going through all of Blake’s comic strips. Highlighters, pens, and pencils flew through the air. Lots of lattes and typewritten revised drafts later, we found Blake’s inner voice!
Making sure to maintain Sarah’s writing style, and Blake’s 6th grade version and vision of the story, narrator Michael Crouch added his own “ribbets” of pleasure to his sincere and delightful performance of Blake in the recording studio.
Sarah and I cast each voice thoughtfully to bring authenticity, diversity, and personality to the audiobook, and the director, Jessica Kaye, kept track of all nine reader’s parts (including the author’s) while bringing the very best out of each of them.
Every single narrator found a personal connection to the project and each expressed their gratitude for being selected to work on Operation Frog Effect. The teacher we all wish we had, the teachers we hope our kids will have, and lessons we all can learn from are present in Sarah’s very special book which as operations go, was not too invasive, and incredibly healing.Linda Korn, Executive Producer
THE CAST
Ron Butler (Kai) is a Los Angeles-based actor with credits in film, theater, and television. As an audiobook narrator, he’s received two Audie nominations and won eight AudioFile magazine Earphones Awards. He is a member of the Atlantic Theater Company and an IFP award-winner for his work in the HBO film Everyday People.
Michael Crouch (Blake) is an Audie Award-winning actor based in New York City. His audiobook narration has earned multiple Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine and Best of the Year listings from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. He can also be heard on national commercials, cartoons, video games, and the animé series Pokémon XY and Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V.
Maxwell Glick (Henry) is an avid audiobook reader and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Office and Castle. He is also involved in a number of hit web series, including the Emmy Award®–winning The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.
Kim Mai Guest (Aviva) is an award-winning voice actor for audiobooks and video games. She can also be heard on television shows, such as G.I. Joe: Renegades, Batman: the Brave and the Bold, and Avatar, and movies, like Chill Out Scooby Doo and Dead Space: Aftermath.
Ana Isabel (Cecilia) is a classically trained Latinx actress who frequently performs off-Broadway. Her TV work includes sketch comedy on the Tonight Show with David Letterman as well as dramatic improv on Lifetime. She currently resides in New York City.
Caitlin Kelly (Emily) is an experienced voice over artist working in audiobook narration, animation, commercials, and education. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Caitlin moved to New York City to pursue her theatrical training at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She has a BFA in Drama and studied musical theatre at CAP21. As an audiobook narrator, Caitlin has won Earphones from Audiofile Magazine and a 2018 Audie Award nomination for her work on New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson.
Kathleen McInerney (Kayley) is a classically trained actress and award-winning audio book narrator (Earphone, Audie, and ALSC Notable Children’s Recording, among others) who has recorded numerous titles by bestselling authors. She has performed in New York City and in regional theaters across the country.
Catherine Taber’s (Sharon) film and television credits include Nickelodeon’s The Loud House, Jane the Virgin, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The Georgia native is the winner of multiple Earphones Awards for audiobook narration.
Bahni Turpin (Narrator/Mrs.Graham) is an ensemble member of the Cornerstone Theater Company in Los Angeles. She has guest starred in many television series, including NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Six Feet Under, Cold Case, What About Brian, and The Comeback. Her film credits include Brokedown Palace, Crossroads, and Daughters of The Dust.