Frog TheWide-Mouthed

Once there was a wide-mouthed frog who lived down in a swamp. She was very excited becauseshe had just given birth to some brand new babies! Well, she thought her babies were just the most wonderful babies in the world. Her babies were much too special to eat the flies and mosquitoes that other frog babiesate. Her babiesneeded somethingbetter.But shedidn't know what. So she went on a journey to find out what other mothers fed their hungry babies. And so she went on her journey, and as she hopped along, she sang, Soon she came to a deer grazing in some bushes. "Oh Ms. Deer,Ms. Deer,excuse me. What do you feed your hungry babies?" Ms. Deer replied, "Why,I feed my babieson the tender new shootsat the tops of theselittle trees." "Oh, well I could never climb a tree to reach that food for my babies.Thank you, I'll keep looking." And so shecarried on along her journey, and

"I'M A WIDE-MOUTHED FROG, I'M A WIDE-MOUTHED FROG!" hop,hop. Hop,

Soon she cameto a turtle. "Oh Ms. Turtle, Ms. Turtle, excuseme. What do you feed your hungry babies?" Ms. Turtle replied, "Why I feed my babieson thesetender mushrooms." "WelI," said the wide-mouthed frog, "those mushrooms smell a little earthy to me. Thank you, I'11 keep looking." And so shecarried on along her journey,and as shehopped she sang, "I',}if A WIDE-MOUTHED FROG,

&s hopped sang, she she ,'I'M A WIDE-MOUTHED FROG, I'M A WIDE-MOUTHED FROG!'
Hop, hop, hop. Soonshecameto an owl, high up in a tree. "Oh Ms. Owl, Ms. Owl, excuseme. What do you feed your hungry babies?" Ms. Owl hooted and replied, "Why,I feed my babieson fine, fresh mice." "Eew, a live mouse! Well anryay, I could never catch a mouse for mv babies. Thank yor,I'll keep looking." And so shecarried on along her journey, and ds shehopped she sang,

I'M A WIDE-MOUTHED FROG!' hop, Hop, hop.

,,I'M A WIDE-MOUTHED FROG, I'M A WIDE-MOUTHED FROG!'

Programs 181 to FiveEasyStories Tellin Porent-lnfont

Hop, hop, hop. Soon she came to the edge of a wide, wide river. There, swimming toward her was a ... large crocodile. Loudly, she called out to the crocodile,

IMen my friend GingerMullen tells this story Brigit, shehasMs. Froghopup the to her baby, streetsto their housemeetingall their animal friends alongthe utay,and sheendsit like this: BabyBrigit, what do you eat?And babyBrigit said,"WhenI openmy mouthWIDE, I get lots I of milk. But uthen don't,I get nothin'!"

"Oh Ms. Crocodile,Ms. Crocodile, excuseme. What do you feed your hungry babies?"
Stitl swimming toward her, Ms. Crocodile called out, "Why, I feed my babies on ... wide ... mouthed ... frogs!" "Oh. Well. Thank verymuch,"said the naryou your lips!)And she row-mouthed frog. (Purse hopped away as quickly as ever she could. Hop! Hop! Hop! In disgust, the crocodile turned around and swam away. And as the wide-mouthed frog hopped quickly home, she decided to feed her hungry babieson delicious flies and mosquitoes, just like the other frog moms. Th"y were the perfect food for wide-mouthed frogs. Nofes; accent. I like to tell this story using a southern that liae it Youcanmake localby usinganimals and contract in your area.Youcanalsoexpand thestoryby addingmoreanimals Ms. Frogto for aisit. lt's a greatstoryfor parentsto tell their wideat to babies get themto opentheir mouths There afeut slightly dffirent picare mealtimes. by uersions includingthepop-up Keith turebook Faulknerand illustratedby lonathanLambert (NewYork: Readers,1996). DiaI Books Young for aparit's the because about I likethisuersion best ent and child.Dad couldalsobetheonelooking for foodfor his hungry baby.

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