City Dog, Country Frog

Picture-book super-stars Mo Willems and Jon J. Muth, each of whom has been awarded a Caldecott Honor - Willems for Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and Muth for Zen Shorts - join forces in City Dog, Country Frog, a poignant exploration of friendship and loss that is simply but powerfully told, and beautifully illustrated. Opening in Spring, on City Dog's first day in the country, in follows the story of an unusual cross-species friendship through the seasons, until a new Spring brings changes both heartbreaking and hopeful...

This book was simply gorgeous! I always think I am prepared for Muth's lovely watercolor artwork, but somehow it manages to sneak up on me every time, with its deft use of light and movement, and its ability to show more capture the emotional undercurrents of any scene. The exuberant joy, in the panel in which City Dog and Country Frog frolic amongst the rocks; the sense of happiness and expectation, as City Dog dashes through the Fall landscape, eager to be reunited with his friend; and the loneliness of Winter, as City Dog sits alone, in the snowy landscape, are all brilliantly captured in the artwork, and in Willems' simple text. Not a word is wasted, not a painting misses its mark! This is, in short, picture-book art (both written and visual) at its best - and a very great pleasure to witness. I hope this duo will collaborate again, and give us another such gift! show less

Summary:

A city dog meets a country frog and the two become friends, teaching each other games and playing joyfully throughout the seasons. The frog grows older and dies, and the dog doesn't understand where his friend went, but he makes another friend in country squirrel, and the beautiful cycle of friendship and life starts over again.

Personal Commentary / Reflection:

What an unexpectedly sad book! I mean, it was beautifully sad. I wasn't expecting that though, after reading books like Shark vs Train and The Bossier Baby. Definitely a change of pace. This is a picture book that would do best with a slightly older audience- kids who are aware enough to understand age and can grasp the evolving cycle of friendship. It was really show more touching how the frog wanted to just play remember games when he was old. I wonder if I'll be like that when I get older, wanted to spend more time talking instead of doing. I would be fine with that. I like reminiscing. It's beautiful in its own way. show less

This is my favorite childrens book. When I read this book for the first time to my daughter, I didn't know what was going to happen. As we neared Winter, I had an idea, but when Winter came I could not stop crying. The illustrations, the text, it all fit so perfectly that I was overcome with emotion. I lost my country frog when I was 17 years old and she was 16. When I was 24 years old I met my country chipmunk. I bought this book for her and before she read it I wrote a note on it that said, "to my country chipmunk" she cried as hard as I did when she read the story. It is a sad, but truthful story that can help children understand the circle of life, and that even though we may lose someone we love, and that we can have time to show more grieve, do not be blind to the others who become part of our lives while we are still here. show less

City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems is a lovely picture book collaboration between Mo Willems and Jon J. Muth. A city dog (inspired by Willems's own pet) moves to the country and makes friends with a frog. They spend the year playing together until wintertime when the frog has lived out the last of his days.

Jon J. Muth I mostly know for his Zen books which feature quiet lessons by a panda bear, followed with beautifully rendered water colors. Here he manages to bring the right balance of humor and thoughtful reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the value of friendship in that time

City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems (Author), Jon J. Muth (Illustrator)
Disney-Hyperion (2010), Edition: First Edition, 64 pages

City Dog, Country Frog is a picture book written by Mo Willems and illustrated by Jon J. Muth. This book belongs in the modern fantasy genre because although the story is fairly grounded, it still involves talking animals.

City Dog is visiting the country during the spring and he ends up meeting Country Frog. Country Frog ends up teaching City Dog all kinds of country games that involved splashing, swimming, and croaking. When City Dog came back for the summer, City Dog then taught Country Frog city games, which basically was learning how to bark, fetch, and sniff. When City Dog came back for the fall, Country show more Frog was feeling too tired to play any games and instead he and City Dog just reminisced on the fun times they had. When City Dog came back for the winter, Country Frog was nowhere to be seen, leaving City Dog alone. When spring came around again, Country Chipmunk came upon City Dog waiting for Country Frog. Eventually, City Dog and Country Chipmunk played new games and became fast friends.

I can honestly admit that I teared up reading this book. I really like how Mo Willems doesn't need to spell out to the readers that Country Frog died over the winter, it just trusts children to be able to understand what happened. This is a huge departure for Mo Willems, a man who traditionally writes very funny and irreverent stories for children. I also think that the illustrator, Jon J. Muth, needs to be commended. Normally Willems will illustrate his own stories, but Muth uses this gorgeous watercolor to make City Dog and Country Frog resemble real dogs and frogs, but imbue them with their own character. Also, the page in which City Dog is sitting alone in the snow honestly blew me away.

This is a very sincere, sweet story from a man who is traditionally very silly that is about the bonds of friendship, loss, and the passage of time. I highly recommend this one. show less

City Dog, Country Frog is a very nice book. I'll be brief... Muth's illustrations are simply incredible. What a delight. The story by Willems isn't quite as smartly original as Pigeon or Naked Mole Rat; it's a very simple story. But it's simplicity is also it's charm. And I was surprised by how heartfelt the ending would be. My son wanted to read it again immediately after we first read it, and I imagine it will be a favorite in the reading rotation for some time to come.

Incandescent watercolors perfectly capture the bright, misty memories of passing seasons in the lives of a waggy mutt and a happy hopper. The two meet, learn each other's games, become fast friends, but all too soon winter arrives and the frog vanishes into a blurred blue-white landscape.

I'd hoped the frog would emerge from the mud come the next spring, and waited and watched with the dog, tears barely contained.

With a minimum of words and those soft, brilliant illustrations, Mo Willems and Jon Muth gently present for children lessons not only in friendship but also in the pleasures and heartache that time brings. Just as dogs live longer than frogs, children outlive their pets. Enjoy each other while you can.

My only quibble with this show more book is that the final pages feel tacked on, possibly to satisfy an editor who wanted a happy ending. After all, children are fragile and if their favorite toy breaks, you must run out and get them a substitute. Perhaps they should be allowed time to grieve also. show less