When homely Jennifer stumbles into Mr. Elives Magic Shop, she ends up buying a talking toad named Bufo. Jennifer must make a painful choice about beauty when she faces a terrifying witch who is seeking the "Jewel of Perfect Happiness" concealed in Bufos forehead. Illustrations.
Jennifer Murdley, a homely fifth-grader who would give anything to be beautiful, accidentally stumbles into a magic shop and purchases a very ugly toad. The toad, it turns out, can talk and ends up getting Jennifer into the worst trouble of her life. This madcap, head-spinning adventure is also a thought-provoking story about the nature of true beauty.