Grasshopper on the Road By: Arnold Lobel

Grasshopper on the Road is the journey of a grasshopper and the many insects he encounters during a day on a road.

All the chapters within this book are witty and funny but my favorite is the chapter entitled "Always".

When the grasshopper decides to take a rest and sit on a mushroom he meets three butterflies who ask him to move because they "always" sit there every afternoon. The butterflies go through their whole routine which is exactly the same everyday. Grasshopper asks "Don't you ever change anything?" "No, never," said the butterflies. "Each day is fine for us." So they tell the grasshopper that because they like talking with him that everyday they will have him listen like he is doing today. Grasshopper responds by saying "I will be moving on. I will be doing new things." They bid him farewell and ask him "do you really do something different ever day of your life?" "Always," said Grasshopper "Always and always!"

I love that! Every time I read that it inspires me to do something "different" and also inspires me to impart that on my children as well. We all get stuck on the daily tasks at hand but it really is important to take risks and try new things. Adventure is a great part of life. I remind my kids it might take courage but these things are usually the things that we reap the most rewards from. So take your kids on a fun adventure with Grasshopper and teach them a great lesson on the way.

"At Evening" Grasshopper reminds us all to be aware of the little things around us

Frog and Toad All Year By: Arnold Lobel

 

 

 While walking my daughter to preschool one morning I saw some flowers peeking up through the cold, damp ground and said "spring is just around the corner" pointing to the daffodils.  While we walked hand in hand Isabela looked up at me and said "Mom what corner is spring just around?"  This made me think of the book Frog and Toad All Year and the chapter "The Corner".

Frog and Toad are best friends.  They do almost everything together.  Frog is very outgoing and adventurous and Toad is well the complete opposite.  One of Toads favorite sayings is "Blah."  It is apparent in every story that their friendship is the most important thing to both of them. The humor in the stories brings these characters to life.

"The Corner" starts off with Frog and Toad coming out of the rain and Frog agreeing to tell Toad a story while they wait for the rain to stop.  Frog tells Toad of being little and his father telling him "'Son, this is a cold , gray day but spring is just around the corner."  Frog decides to then find the corner spring is just around.  Frog then goes on an adventure searching but becomes tired and it begins to rain. He heads home where he finds the sun shining, birds singing, his mother and father in the garden filling with flowers.  Toad cries "You found it!"  They noticed it has stopped raining and they go out "to make sure that spring had come again."

I actually found this book at the Hershey Library's Annual Book Sale for 25 cents.  I can recall reading these books as a little girl and the Frog and Toad books are what I used when Isabela was just starting to read by using her or my finger to follow each word.   Each book has five chapters and we always find ourselves not being able to stop until the book is finished. If you want to read another story fit for this time of year try Frog and Toad Are Friends chapter "Spring." Their is also A Year With Frog and Toad Broadway CD that we discovered. The song "Getta Loada Toad" based off the chapter "Swim" in the book Frog and Toad Are Friends is hilarious!  Toad doesn't want anyone to see him in his bathing suit!  Emma makes us put this song on repeat and laughs hysterically at it every time! 

Happy spring time reading!