The Adventures of Grandfather Frog

Determined to see the Great World beyond the familiar vistas of the Smiling Pool, Laughing Brook, Green Meadows, and Green Forest, Grandfather Frog leaps forth to tumble haplessly into the pitfalls of greed, boastfulness, and carelessness. In this time-honored classic, Thornton W. Burgess mixes exciting adventure and good-natured humor with gentle homily to spin a wholesome tale of animal characters that children have found irresistible for generations.

Woven into Grandfather Frog's adventures are the daring pranks of Jerry Muskrat, Little Joe Otter, and Billy Mink, the hunting exploits of Longlegs the Blue Heron and Whitetail the Marsh Hawk, and the brave deeds of Danny Meadow Mouse and Striped Chipmunk. Their interwoven stories will show more delight children as they discover, one by one, the many good reasons why Grandfather Frog came to wish he had never, never thought of leaving the Smiling Pool to see the Great World. show less

Determined to see the Great World beyond the familiar vistas of the Smiling Pool, Laughing Brook, Green Meadows, and Green Forest, Grandfather Frog leaps forth to tumble haplessly into the pitfalls of greed, boastfulness, and carelessness. In this time-honored classic, Thornton W. Burgess mixes exciting adventure and good-natured humor with gentle homily to spin a wholesome tale of animal characters that children have found irresistible for generations.

Woven into Grandfather Frog's adventures are the daring pranks of Jerry Muskrat, Little Joe Otter, and Billy Mink, the hunting exploits of Longlegs the Blue Heron and Whitetail the Marsh Hawk, and the brave deeds of Danny Meadow Mouse and Striped Chipmunk. Their interwoven stories will show more delight children as they discover, one by one, the many good reasons why Grandfather Frog came to wish he had never, never thought of leaving the Smiling Pool to see the Great World. show less

Grandfather Frog and his cousin old Mr. Toad have a little rivalry going on. Whenever they visit together old Mr. Toad boasts of things he's seen traveling in the wide world, and Grandfather Frog claims that sticking close to home is the best. Finally the toad goads Grandfather Frog enough that he decides to leave his pond and do some traveling himself. All his friends urge him to stay at home but their worries that Grandfather Frog doesn't know how to take care of himself in the wide world only sting his pride and make him more determined to go. Of course he has plenty of mishaps on his adventures, from getting hot and tired away from water so long, to having a frightful scare when the farmer's boy intends to catch him. Even after a show more narrow escape he still stubbornly continues on and it takes more serious scares that threaten his life before the old frog swallows his pride and goes back to his safe home, very much relieved to be there!

I think this little book teaches children pretty clearly that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. It also teaches quite a bit about nature, particularly things about frogs: what they like to eat, how dependent they are on water, their modes of travel, etc. I found it quite an engaging little story that has a lot going on under the surface.

from the Dogear Diary show less

This is the exact edition we grew up with. It was our mother's.

This is another favorite from childhood. My children now enjoy it also!