Frog and Toad

Frog and Toad is a scary story for young children. It comes from a short little story named “Shivers” in a book by Arnold Lobel called Days With Frog and Toad.

The night was cold and dark.

“Listen to the wind howling in the trees,” said Frog. “What a fine time for a ghost story.”

Toad moved deeper into his chair.

“Toad,” asked Frog, “don’t you like to be scared? Don’t you like to feel the shivers?”

“I am not too sure,” said Toad.

Frog made a fresh pot of tea. He sat down and began a story.

“When I was small,” said Frog, “my mother and father and I went out for a picnic. On the way home we lost our way. My mother was worried.

‘We must get home,’ she said. ‘We do not want to meet the Old Dark Frog.’

‘Who is that?’ I asked.

‘A terrible ghost,’ said my father. ‘He comes out at night and eats little frog children for supper.’”

Toad sipped his tea. “Frog,” he asked, “are you making this up?”

“Maybe yes and maybe no,” said Frog. “My mother and father went to search for a path. They told me to wait until they came back. I sat under a tree and waited. The woods became dark. I was afraid. Then I saw two huge eyes. It was the Old Dark Frog. He was standing near me.”

“Frog,” asked Toad, “did this really happen?”

“Maybe it did and maybe it didn’t,” said Frog. Frog went on with the story. “The Dark Frog pulled a jump rope out of his pocket.

‘I am not hungry now,’ said the Dark Frog. ‘I have eaten too many tasty frog children. But after I jump rope one hundred times, I will be
hungry again. Then I will eat YOU!’”

“The Dark Frog tied one end of the rope to a tree.

‘Turn for me!’ he shouted. I turned the rope for the Dark Frog. He jumped twenty times. ‘I am beginning to get hungry,’ said the Dark Frog.

He jumped fifty times. ‘I am getting hungrier,’ said the Dark Frog.

He jumped ninety times. ‘I am very hungry now!’ said the Dark Frog.”

“What happened then?” asked Toad.

“I had to save my life,” said Frog. “I ran around and around the tree with the rope. I tied up the Old Dark Frog. He roared and screamed. I ran away fast. I found my mother and father,” said Frog. “We came safely home.”

“Frog,” asked Toad, “was that a true story?”

“Maybe it was and maybe it wasn’t,” said Frog.

Frog and Toad sat close by the fire. They were scared. The teacups shook in their hands. They were having the shivers. It was a good, warm feeling.