city dog, country frog by Mo Willems

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Willems, Mo. 2010. CITY DOG, COUNTRY FROG. Ill. by Jon J. Muth. New York, NY: Hyperion.
ISBN 9781423103004

PLOT SUMMARY
Set among the changing seasons, the story begins in the Springtime as the city dog arrives in the country. Freedom from a leash is glorious and he runs as fast and as far as he can.  Soon, he comes across something he has never seen before - a country frog. The dog asks, "What are you doing?" The frog replies, "Waiting for a friend. But you'll do." Country frog decides to teach his new friend how to jump, splash, and croak. That Spring, the city dog and the country frog become the best of friends.  Returning to the country during the Summer, the city dog rushes to find his good friend so that he can share his own favorite games of sniffing, fetching, and barking.  They have lots of fun playing together in the summer sun.  When the two friends reunite in the Fall, the country frog is too tired to play any games. He would rather sit on their favorite rock and remember the good times that they have shared.  Sometimes just hanging out together can be great fun too. Winter has covered the ground in a blanket of white as once again the city dog races across the fields to meet his good buddy.  Spot after favorite spot, he is unable to find the country frog anywhere. This unexpected loss of his friend leaves the dog sad and lonely throughout the long winter months.  But as spring inevitably reappears, the city dog once more returns to the country.  This time, however, it's a chipmunk who spies something that she has never seen before - a city dog. "What are you doing?" asks the country chipmunk. "Waiting for a friend," replies the city dog.  Remembering the spirit of his dear friend, the frog, he smiles brightly and says, "But you'll do."

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Combining understated text with a straightforward narrative between the two main characters, Willems has created a bittersweet tale of friendship, loss, and new beginnings.  His choice of the changing seasons is the perfect backdrop for a story about the cycle of life. To demonstrate the passage of time, the story has been divided into seasonal episodes. With each new season, Willems has kept both the language and the characters’ actions to a minimum.  This keeps the reader’s focus on the growing relationship between the dog and the frog.  It is not so much what is said, but rather what is left unsaid that makes this story so powerful.  The reappearance of spring brings the plot full circle and renews hope not only for the story’s main character, but for its readers as well.  

It is Muth’s illustrations, however, that awaken a strong emotional response to the story.  His soft watercolor pictures vividly capture the seasons presented in the text.  The uniqueness of each season comes to life with its own special hues whether it is the bright yellow-greens and pinks of springtime or the red, golds, and browns that signify the end of summer.  More importantly, each turn of the page brings new depth to the characters. Through actions and expressions, Muth reveals their distinct personalities and true feelings for one another.  At the beginning of the story, city dog’s wagging tail shows his excitement and playfulness, whereas a longing gaze across the winter landscape graphically depicts his deep feeling of loss.  His friend, the country frog, appears sublimely content as he takes a boat ride on the dog’s head.  Readers can almost feel the love and concern as frog lays his hand on the sleeping dog’s paw.  

While the story will stir unique feelings in readers of all ages, the vivid images that represent the theme of loss may be too unsettling for very young readers. The perfect pairing of Willem’s simple prose and Muth’s evocative illustrations make city dog, country frog a poignant picture book that once read will not easily be forgotten.  

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
2011 Zolotow Award Honor Book

From Kirkus Reviews: (Ages 3-18) "a smart and subtle meditation on life, love, and loss."

A Starred Review from Booklist: (PreS-grade 2)
"It's hard to imagine a picture book that more consistently (and touchingly) hits all the right notes." 

CONNECTIONS
Books on friendship for young readers: (PreS-grade 3)

Bourgeois, Paulette. FRANKLIN IS BOSSY.  ISBN 0590477579 (you can't always have it your way)
Carle, Eric. DO YOU WANT TO BE MY FRIEND?  ISBN 0399215980 (not everyone does)
Lobel, Arnold. DAYS WITH FROG AND TOAD.  ISBN 9780064440585 (good times together)
Pfister, Marcus. THE RAINBOW FISH.   ISBN 9781558584419 (sharing, making new friends)
Silverstein, Shel. THE GIVING TREE.  ISBN 0060856656 (selfishness)
Viorst, Judith. ROSIE AND MICHAEL.  ISBN 0689712723 (two friends who share their troubles)

Friendship activities:
*Design a "Friendship" bulletin board with children contributing related words, pictures (drawn by the children or clipped from magazines), personal photos, stories, poems, riddles, or jokes.
*Create a web with "Traits of a Good Friend" as the main idea. (Whole class or individually) Ask students to share their ideas of what constitutes a true friend. 
*Form a Friendship Circle whereby the teacher and students form a large loose circle. The teacher starts the activity by describing herself (eye or hair color, siblings, hobbies, birthplace, favorite food, etc...).  When one of the students hears something that they have in common with the teacher, they join hands with her. Then they begin describing themselves and the activity repeats until everyone has joined the circle of friends.