Days with Frog and Toad — Chapter 5

About This Passage

Selected because the very last sentence of the book holds two opposite words side by side: "alone together." Lobel does not explain how someone can be both alone and together at the same time. The whole chapter is the answer to that puzzle. The copywork lesson is in the rhythm of three short sentences that each end on a quiet image. Notice the funny detail of the wet sandwiches — Lobel will not pretend the friends got everything right.

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. Toad finds a note on Frog's door that says, "I am not at home. I went out. I want to be alone." Toad's first thought is, "Frog has me for a friend. Why does he want to be alone?" What does Toad think the word ALONE means? What in the story makes you think so?
2. Toad makes sandwiches and a pitcher of iced tea, climbs on a turtle's back, and gets all the way to the island to cheer Frog up. The turtle asks, "If Frog wants to be alone, why don't you leave him alone?" Toad keeps going anyway. Was it the right thing for Toad to keep going, or should he have listened to the turtle? What in the story makes you think so?

+ 2 more questions in the complete study guide