The Corner

from 'Frog and Toad All Year' , by Arnold Lobel

Says Frog to Toad, "When I was small, not much bigger than a pollywog...my father said to me, 'Son, this is a cold, gray day, but spring is just around the corner.' I wanted spring to come. I went out to find that corner. I walked down a path in the woods until I came to a corner. I went around the corner to see if spring was on the other side."

"And was it?" asked Toad.

"No," said Frog. "There was only a pine tree, three pebbles, and some dry grass. I walked to the meadow. Soon I came to another corner. I went around the corner to see if spring was there."

"Did you find it?" asked Toad.

"No," said Frog. "There was only an old worm asleep on a tree stump. I walked along the river until I came to another corner. I went around the corner to look for spring."

"Was it there?" asked Toad.

"No," said Frog. "There was only some wet mud and a lizard who was chasing his tail."

"You must have been tired," said Toad.

"I was tired," said Frog, "and it started to rain. I went back home. When I got there," said Frog, "I found another corner. It was the corner of my house."

"Did you go around it?" asked Toad.

"I went around that corner, too," said Frog.

"What did you see?" asked Toad.

"I saw the sun coming out," said Frog. "I saw birds sitting and singing in a tree. I saw my mother and father working in their garden. I saw flowers in the garden."

"You found it!" cried Toad.

"Yes," said Frog. "I was very happy. I had found the corner that spring was just around."

I read this with Jake the other night, and was reminded of how welcoming May feels after the long months of winter and early spring. Welcome, May! We are happy to usher you in.