City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems

Willems, Mo.  City Dog, Country Frog.  Illustrated Jon J. Muth.  Hyperion Books for Children, 2010. $17.99  PICTURE BOOK.  Content, G.  Upon City Dog’s first visit to the country, he meets up with Country Frog.  The two become quick friends.  The book takes place over four visits in the four different seasons, and the two friends play country games and city games and in the fall they sit back and reminisce about the fun times they have had together.  When City Dog shows up in the winter, Country Frog is not there, leaving the reader to conclude that Country Frog has passed away.  The next spring, when City Dog comes to the forest, he meets a new friend, a chipmunk and the story has come full circle.  The illustrations are great.  It’s a sweet story of friendship and change. EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL. Reviewer, C. Peterson, teacher.