Story of Friendship & Humor

A children story about friendship between a Frog and a Toad.   I found it very touching and at the same time funny. I am glad I read this story for my child and myself.

Title: The Surprise, by Arnold Lobel

It was October.  The leaves had fallen off the trees.  They were lying on the ground.   Frog said "I will go to Toad's house".   "I will rake all of the leaves that have fallen on his lawn.  Toad will be surprised".   Frog took a rake out of the garden shed.   

Meanwhile....

Toad looked out of his window.  "These messy leaves have covered everything," said Toad.  He took a rake out of the chest.  "I will run over to Frog's house.  I will rake all of his leaves, Frog will be pleased".

Frog ran through the woods so that Toad would not see him.

Toad ran through the high grass so that Frog would not see him.

Frog came to Toad's house.  He looked in the window.  "Good, " said Frog. "Toad is out.  He will never know who raked his leaves."

Toad got to Frog's house.  He looked in the window.  "Good," said Toad.  "Frog is not home.  He will never guess who raked his leaves."

Both Frog and Toad worked hard.  They raked the leaves into a pile.  Soon Toad's lawn was clean, so Frog picked up his rake and started home.

Toad having left not a single leaf in Frog's front yard, he took his rake and started home.

BUT....A wind came.  It blew across the land.   The pile of leaves that Frog had raked for Toad blew everywhere.  The pile of leaves that Toad had raked for Frog blew everywhere.

When Frog got home, he said, "Tomorrow I will clean up the leaves that are all over my own lawn.   How suprised Toad must be!"

When Toad got home, he said, "Tomorrow I will get to work and rake all of my own leaves.  How surprised Frog must be!"

That night Frog and Toad were both happy when they each turned out the light and went to bed. 

It reminds us of the good feelings we have when we do something nice to others and the warmth of friendship we have in sharing the humors of life.