Days with Frog and Toad — Chapter 2

About This Passage

Selected because Lobel pairs Toad's three words of joy with one of the quietest images in the whole book — birds outflown by paper. Notice how "We" gives the credit to Frog and Toad together, even though Toad did all the running. Then the next sentence does something almost magical: it shows the loud, unhelpful watchers finally moving and being unable to reach the height of the very thing they laughed at.

Narration Prompt

Tell someone what happened in this story in order. When you get to the most important part, slow down and tell it carefully — what happened, why it mattered, and what you think about it.

Discussion Questions

1. Three robins sit in a bush and watch Frog and Toad try to fly the kite. After the first try, they say, "That kite will not fly." After the second try, they say, "What a joke." After the third try, they say, "That kite is junk." The robins never try to fly the kite themselves. Why does the author put the robins in the story when they never do anything but laugh? What in the story makes you think so?
2. Toad ran across the meadow four times. Each time he came back to Frog ready to give up — "this kite will not fly," "this kite is a joke," "this kite is junk." But Frog never says "You are right, let's go home." Frog always says, "We must make another try." What does Frog know about Toad that helps him keep saying "another try"? What in the story makes you think so?

+ 2 more questions in the complete study guide