Frogs are good at hopping, but Tiny the Treefrog’s new book represents a big leap even for a fictional amphibian.

Local author Elizabeth Mulderig’s latest book Not the Bermuda Triangle, written under the pen name ‘Betsy Bermuda’ is aimed at an older crowd, ten years old and up, and is a nonfiction book about Bermuda’s history. It might also appeal to adults with a short attention span who like history in easily digestible bite sized pieces.

For example, did you know that in 1615, there were about 1,200 settlers in Bermuda, mostly male. They were naturally a bit lonely, so a ship load of women was sent over from England to liven things up. To marry one of these ladies, however, a man had to produce 100lbs of tobacco, a hefty price.

Witch trials, rat invasions and onions are some other historic topics touched on. Bermudian traditions, holidays and dialect are also covered. There are also lighthearted cartoons in every chapter.

Ms Mulderig credited Hannah Willmott, owner of the Bermuda Bookstore, with inspiring her to write the book.

“She showed me a series called Horrible Histories by Terry Deary and suggested the I do something like this for Bermuda as it was so popular in England that the schools have actually included it in their curriculum,” said Ms Mulderig. “I took Hannah’s suggestion and this new book was born a year later.”

Ms Mulderig said she wanted to teach a bit about the history of the Island and explain some of our folklore. Roof wettings, Cup Match, Kite Day and other Island traditions are included in the book.

“When Hannah first asked me to do a book like this I panicked a bit because fiction is my forte, not facts,” said Ms Mulderig.

She said with extensive editing help from Terry Greenslade, a very factual and accurate historical book was produced.

“Of course, there is the usual amount of levity that I am famous for running throughout the book,” she said.

“For example, one of the cartoons concerning the ‘three kings’ fighting over a piece of ambergris has one of them saying, ‘Dat’s my vhale womit!’. Apparently, the Bermudian accent is as close to old English as it gets because the Island was so isolated the accent didn’t develop from Shakespearean times.”

The book starts out explaining why the Bermuda Triangle was unfairly named. It sights example after example where planes and ships disappeared off the coast of Florida and Puerto Rico. Very few vanished anywhere near Bermuda.

“The name was coined when both Florida and Puerto Rico (the other two triangle points) objected to an article written in the fifties naming first one and then the other,” she said. “Bermuda did not object.”

The author said that visitors are fascinated by the Bermuda Triangle.

“Hughie, my husband, was told by a couple from California that the rest of their family wouldn’t join them on the trip because they were afraid of the triangle,” she said.