Story Time With Isaac: "Days With Frog & Toad" - Shivers | Reading Aloud For Children

27 Jul 2023 · 3 min

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3:20

In this read‑aloud segment, the narrator (Story Time With Isaac) brings to life the Frog & Toad picture‑book story “Shivers.” The scene opens on a cold, windy night as Frog invites Toad to hear a spooky tale. Frog recounts a childhood picnic that went wrong, describing how he and his parents got lost and encountered the legendary Old Dark Frog, a ghost that supposedly eats little frog children. The story is told with repeated phrases, ambiguous truth‑claims (“maybe yes, maybe no”), and escalating tension as the dark frog demands rope turns. Frog ultimately outwits the creature, ties it up, and reunites with his parents, returning safely home. The narrative ends with both characters feeling the “shivers” while sipping tea by the fire, emphasizing a warm, comforting feeling after the fright. The piece serves as an entertaining, atmospheric bedtime story for children, showcasing themes of fear, imagination, bravery, and the playful uncertainty of storytelling.

Chapters

The night was cold and dark. Listen to the wind howling in the trees, said Frog. What a time for a ghost story! Toad moved deeper into his chair. Toad! Toad! asked Frog. Do you like to be scared? I don't know. Don't you like to feel the shivers? I am not 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 must get home, she said. We do not want to meet the Old Dark Frog. Who is that? I asked. A terrible, 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. He was standing near me. My mother and father went to search for a path, said Frog. 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 2 huge eyes. It was the old He was standing near me. Frog, asked Toad, did you— did this really happen? Maybe it did and maybe it didn't, said Frog. The dark frog tied one end of a rope to a tree. Turn for me! he shouted. I turned the rope for the dark frog. He jumped 20 times. I, I am beginning to get hungry, said the dark frog. He jumped 50 times. I am getting hungrier, said the dark frog. He jumped 90 times. I am very hungry now, said the dark frog. What happened then? asked Toad. I had to save my life! I ran round and round 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. 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.