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: 

In this heartwarming book about friendships and time, we follow a City Dog as he visits the country during all four seasons.  The illustrations are beautiful as they show the change of time from one season to the next.  Sweet City Dog runs free when he visits the country and finds an unlikely friend, Country Frog.  The two are cute and funny in all their snap shots in time.  With time, things change and life goes on for one friend who is forever changed by his original friendship.  

Critical Analysis: 

I found this to be a very touching story about unlikely friendships.  It was sweet to see towards the end of the book how City Dog displayed some of the sweet characteristics from his former best friend.  Without knowing it, I have once again chosen a book that would be great time use with children dealing with loss.  This would be a great book to celebrate a life and all the meaningful moments that will always be in your heart, while being encouraged that like goes on and gets better.  I do feel like this book might be too sad for younger children. 

Reviews: 

·        2011 Zolotow Award Honor Book

·        New York Times – July 2010:   "This is a story about happy chances and the rewards of being with a friend, as well as a story about surviving loss and moving on.  The text is both efficient and beautiful, and with Willems' witty word play, it builds two clear characters rather than just two familiar animals - picture-book writing at its best."    

Connections:  Age Level:  3 and up

·        Book Talk:  Describe incidents that advance the story; adjectives to describe characters

·        Create graphic organizers:  Sequence of events through time; Venn Diagram displaying characters characteristics

·        Journal Response:  Tell me about your best friend, describing him/her in detail using as many adjectives as you can.  When did you first meet him/her?  Tell me about that using a sequence of events that leads to you meeting your best friend.  Tell me about your most memorable moment with your best friend, and then illustrate a picture displaying this memorable moment.