Frog and the Birdsong facts for kids
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| Author | Max Velthuijs |
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| Original title | Kikker en het vogeltje |
| Illustrator | Max Velthuijs |
| Language | Dutch |
| Subject | Death |
| Genre | Children's book, ages 3–6 |
| Publisher | Leopold |
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Publication date
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1991 |
| Pages | 26 |
| ISBN | 9025847544 (Dutch) 978-0862649081 (English) |
Frog and the Birdsong (Dutch: "Kikker en het vogeltje") is a popular children's book from 1991. It was written and illustrated by the Dutch author Max Velthuijs. This book is part of the well-known "Frog" series.
In the story, the main character, Frog, finds a bird that has died. With the help of his friends, Frog learns about death. They decide to bury the bird together. After the burial, they play games, which helps them understand more about life. The book won the Gouden Griffel award in 1992. Many teachers and counselors use it to help children understand and deal with the topic of death.
What Happens in Frog and the Birdsong?
In the story, Frog discovers a "broken" bird. It looks like a common blackbird. Frog quickly runs to tell his friend Pig about it.
Pig first thinks the bird is just sleeping. Then, Duck joins their conversation. Duck believes the bird might be sick. However, Hare knows the truth. He sadly tells them that the bird is dead. Hare explains that "everything dies."
Hare then says a few kind words about the bird. He reminds everyone that the bird "sang beautifully all of his life." Now, it gets its "well-deserved rest." The friends work together to dig a grave for the bird. They place flowers on its body and put a rock over the grave.
Afterward, as they walk away, Frog starts playing tag. Soon, all the friends are having a wonderful afternoon together. This makes Frog exclaim, "Isn't life beautiful!" As the sun sets and they head home, another blackbird begins to sing a lovely song. This shows that life continues, just as it always does.
How Frog and the Birdsong Helps Kids
Children often first learn about death when an animal passes away. Many children's books use animal characters to explain death. This approach helps create a bit of distance, which can make the topic less scary for kids. This idea is shared by Nicholas Tucker in his book The Child and the Book.
Frog and the Birdsong guides young readers through the steps and feelings linked to death. It ends on a hopeful note. The story shows that life goes on, symbolized by the birdsong. Many experts in education suggest this book. They recommend it for children to learn about death. It can be used for reading or as a starting point for classroom activities.
In schools in the Netherlands, this book is often used. For example, in a book called Pondering: 49 philosophical questions from children, Frog and the Birdsong is chosen for a group discussion. The discussion focuses on what it means to be dead. The book is often used to encourage children to talk about death and their feelings. It is even used in schools for deaf children, with sign language. In schools for special education, the book helps during memorial services.
