The narrator reads the first story from the classic children’s book Frog and Toad Together, titled “A List.” Toad decides to write down all his daily tasks on a piece of paper to remember them. He methodically checks off each activity—waking up, eating breakfast, getting dressed, visiting Frog, walking with Frog, eating lunch, napping, playing games, eating supper, and finally going to sleep. While out with Frog, a strong wind blows the list away. Toad refuses to chase it because “running after my list” isn’t on his list, so Frog attempts to retrieve it but fails. Deprived of his list, Toad feels helpless and sits doing nothing. Eventually Frog reminds him that it’s getting dark, and Toad writes “go to sleep” on the ground, crosses it off, and they both go to sleep. The story illustrates themes of organization, reliance on external reminders, friendship, and the simple resolution of ending the day.
Chapters
I am reading Frog and Toad together. Story 1, A List. One morning, Toad sat in bed. I have many things to do, he said. I will write them all down on a list so that I can remember them. Toad wrote on a piece of paper, a list of things to do today. Then he wrote, wake up. I have done that, said Toad. And he crossed out wake up. Then Toad wrote other things on the paper: eat breakfast, get dressed, go to Frog's house, take a walk with Frog, eat lunch, take a nap, play games with Frog, eat supper, or go to sleep. There! said Toad. Now my day is all written down. He got out of bed and had something to eat. Then Toad crossed out eat breakfast. Toad took his clothes out of the closet and put them on. Then he crossed out get dressed. Toad put the list in his pocket. He opened the door and walked out into the morning. Soon Toad was at Frog's front door. He took the list from his pocket and crossed out go to Frog's house. Toad knocked at the door. Hello! Look at my list of things to do! Oh! That is very nice! My list tells me that we will go for a walk. Alright! I am ready! Frog and Toad went on a long walk. Then Toad took the list from his pocket again. He crossed out, take walk with frog. Just then there was a strong wind. It blew the list out of Toad's hand. The list blew high up into the air. Help! cried Toad. My list is blowing away! What will I do without my list? Hurry! said Frog. We will run and catch it. No! I cannot do that! Why not? Because! wailed Toad. Running after my list is not one of the things that I wrote on my list of things to do! Frog ran after the list. He ran over hills and swamps. But the list blew on and on. At last, Frog came back to Toad. I am sorry, gasped Frog. But I could not catch your list. Blah! said Toad. I cannot remember any of the things that were on my list of things to do. I will just have to sit here and do nothing, said Toad. Toad sat and did nothing. Frog sat with him. After a long time, Frog said, Toad! It is getting dark. We should go to sleep now. Go to sleep! shouted Toad. That was the last thing on my list! Toad wrote on the ground with a stick, go to sleep. Then he crossed out go to sleep. There! said Toad. Now my day is all crossed out! I am glad, said Frog. Then Frog and Toad went right to sleep.