The cane toad is Australia's ugliest and most disliked animal. It is slimy and covered in warts, with big, slobbering lips and massive eyes that pop out of its head. It is a nasty green colour and it spits poison.
Only a daring writer would make a cane toad the hero of a novel. Cane toads have none of the qualities needed to make readers feel anything apart from repulsion. Any writer would have a tough job getting readers to care about a cane toad. But Morris Gleitzman is always up for a challenge - and he certainly faced a big one when he began to write Toad Rage.
The open roads in Queensland, Australia are perfect places to practice cane toad squashing. A toad begins its journey across the tarmac, unaware that a lorry or car is heading towards it. Splat! The poor cane toad is a goner. If the animal had been one of the cuter Australian creatures, the driver would have swerved to avoid it. But one cane toad less makes the world a better place.
Limpy is a cane toad who is on a mission to change the world. He can't understand why humans find his family and friends so hateful. Cane toads have feelings too, and when a driver squashes a toad it is murder. Limpy thinks that humans should look on cane toads in a much more kindly and understanding light, but who is going to listen to him?
When he was a young toad, Limpy narrowly escaped death when he was involved in a terrible accident with a lorry. He came out of the accident alive, but one of his legs was damaged. The accident made Limpy wonder why humans despise cane toads so much? Why do drivers have an overwhelming desire to commit murder when they see a cane toad crossing the road?
One day, as Limpy is out walking with Uncle Bart, a truck thunders past and Uncle Bart is squashed to death. Limpy is used to his relatives meeting sticky ends, but he is terrified that his sister and mum and dad are going to end up the same way as Uncle Bart. He resolves to do something to make sure this does not happen.
Limpy sets out to discover why humans are so against cane toads. He intends to convince everyone that toads are likeable creatures who should not be squashed under the wheels of cars and trucks. Limpy has a tough job ahead as a cane toad good-will ambassador, but he is determined to succeed at all costs.
