I really appreciate when stories like this are taken seriously and not dismissed as simple nonsense for children. They are worthwhile for all readers. Stories are more than true, not because they tell us that dragons exist but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten
@VictoriaMeira7 Жыл бұрын
yowww maybe credit neil gaiman if you're gonna quote him
@rachaelknudsen8801 Жыл бұрын
@@VictoriaMeira7 The quote actually came from G.K. Chesterton.
@STRcircaFKR Жыл бұрын
@@VictoriaMeira7 woooowww maybe just let people know without drowning them in vinegar
@Frac.Razoer Жыл бұрын
But dragons aren’t real
@rachaelknudsen8801 Жыл бұрын
@@Frac.Razoer To paraphrase Emma Swan, "Pretty sure I've dated a few." Dragons might steal your time or the brightness in your eyes and they might have words that scorch like fire. Not everything is as it seems.
@fergin4979 Жыл бұрын
I like how the “Alone” story ends with “they were two close friends sitting alone together” Theres something deep there, and to me its how natural and healthy i think it is for friends to just enjoy eachothers presence, without feeling the need to always be actively engaging with eachother. You just cycle through moments of conversation and then moments of being alone with your thoughts, but with friends.
@doefarris2189 Жыл бұрын
My man Arnold said, "let the gays parallel play" and I felt that
@estella.d Жыл бұрын
I think lobel does an amazing job showing comfortable silence. everyone is able to interact, but not everyone is comfortable with each other to not feel the need to interact. it takes work, patience, and trust to get there, all of which frog and toad have for each other. lobel is incredible
@macclift9956 Жыл бұрын
The Noddy and Big Ears books were cleaned up because of the whiff of homosexuality.
@doefarris2189 Жыл бұрын
@@macclift9956 I thought it was because of all the blackface
@elder-woodsilverstein7716 Жыл бұрын
To quote Winnie the Pooh, "Christopher Robin is my best friend to do nothing with."
@thesisypheanjournal1271 Жыл бұрын
"They ate wet sandwiches without any tea" is a beautiful line. It underscores that the important thing wasn't the meal; it was that they were sharing it.
@eraserewrite Жыл бұрын
Wish I could read the way you do. :’) I would’ve skipped over this without much thought.
@grimcowboyer Жыл бұрын
Not only that, I think the idea of consuming wet sandwiches always had been unpleasant, but there's a reason why they don't mind having it. As if they're basically saying that "Hey it doesn't matter the sandwich is wet now, you made it and we're going to appreciate it anyway." It's the act of acceptance towards the love by someone is possibly ruined/flawed (symbolised by the the Toad fell into the waters), and them loving the person anyway.
@eraserewrite Жыл бұрын
@@grimcowboyer I love that. ;_;
@user-bg7hs8br9d Жыл бұрын
@@grimcowboyer k
@user-bg7hs8br9d Жыл бұрын
k
@phillipmargrave Жыл бұрын
I felt so bad for Toad in his bathing suit when all the animals laughed at him after they all promised not to. It was like feeling insecure and being betrayed/insulted by people that claimed to care about you 😢
@laurahuynh8333 Жыл бұрын
Remember that book.
@audreyeverett3301 Жыл бұрын
I played turtle in a school musical and had to shame him in song 😢
@x8makes.1teamx Жыл бұрын
shit literally made me cry not gonna lie
@BeetleBuggg22 күн бұрын
@@audreyeverett3301I play toad💀
@wompwomp9946 Жыл бұрын
I know the whole "touch grass" thing has sorta lost meaning with overuse, but I can't put into words how important it is to just connect with nature and get out of your own head...and get away from the echo chambers, get in touch with yourself, feel small, etc.
@TJ-bu9zk Жыл бұрын
I think what cheapens it is advertising touching grass on social media. If you don't post about it, was any grass actually touched?
@DarkAngelEU Жыл бұрын
@@TJ-bu9zk It's like the tree falling down in the woods. Who cares?
@Pomagranite167 Жыл бұрын
They do say that "touching some grass and being nature" has been shown in some studies to minimize depression. Not very much study on it but I 100% buy it. Of course ppl feel less depressed when your responsibilities have been limited to "dont get sick. Stay warm. Eat. Sleep. Have fun. Spy on a bird. Don't die." Instead of "don't die. Pay bill as soon as you wake up! 5 cups of coffee. Work. Try not to murder yoir boss. Groceries. Try getting through traffic without dying. Pick up kids. Avoid sister's phone calls. 3 piles of laundry. Stress over finances and job. Does my family love me? Make dinner. Shower. Clean room and kitchen." Modern life imo is causing unhealthy mental habits bc we are just living unnaturally for our species and planet. Of course we are all sick. I've found so much liberation in breaking from modern expectations and just living simply and slowly and appreciating the people I have while i have them and actually GOING to visit my loved ones instead of just calling them. Also reminds them they are loved enough for me to black outan entire period on my calendar just for them instead of just sending a "thinking of u" text ot call them while I'm distracted with dishes.
@HieronymousLex Жыл бұрын
Fucking please retire touch grass already. It’s been a saying for like decades yet all of you just started overusing the hell out of it because you’re drone NPCs and you just copy what you see
@Linkolite Жыл бұрын
So vitally important. Nature has very much saved my life.
@hallorette5059 Жыл бұрын
This is one of the best children’s book series. Frog And Toad Are Friends changed my life as a kid. I was super insecure as a kid because I felt like Toad; awkward, silly, selfish and lazy, while I saw my brother as Frog; selfless, competent, patient and kind. It mad me sad because I saw our relationship as one-sided. I read that book and cried because I realized that it was ok, and that’s what friends do: the frogs of the world uplift the toads of the world by kindness and a good example. I began to realize that someday I would have to be Frog to someone else, and I would also be Toad again too. Now I know that it all evens out. We are all both Frog and Toad, to different people in our lives at different times. Frog Are Toad Friends is probably my favorite book of all time.
@MissJemimaPuddleduck Жыл бұрын
Beautiful comment!
@Thewritingelf Жыл бұрын
This was deep and insightful AF.
@HMSDisaster Жыл бұрын
Wow, this comment made me cry! I also feel more like Toad, and I’ve never thought of things the way you put them. Thank you. 💕
@alpyhaWQFwef Жыл бұрын
I heard more in your comment than the video. When the subject presented is filtered through an agenda the meaning seems..lessened. Thanks for sharing your beautiful and compassionate interpretation. May we all be Frog and also Toad in our times, and know that's alright.
@bluelilacfawn Жыл бұрын
i like this a lot :)
@Fit_By_Gods_Grace_Alone Жыл бұрын
Growing up very poor, I never purchased any books from the scholastic book form that was handed out. A friend gave me “Frog and Toad” bc he knew I really wanted it but never had any money. I carried this book around like it was gold. This book inspired me to draw. I love the earthy colors Thanks for sharing.
@Chascoso Жыл бұрын
The whole cottage core aesthetic is really a longing for a life where there isn’t so much chaos. I really miss living in the countryside, but I also remember a lot of bad memories during that period. But being surrounded by nature felt like I always had somewhere to go if I needed some space. In the city it’s not as easy.
@Saffron-sugar Жыл бұрын
I agree, and I don’t think it’s ignoring the fact that people, especially in developing countries, do not live that type of existence or disrespecting them. Guilt doesn’t help them though. Only action will. Ignoring your own mental health will not. It’s about escape It’s about the idealized thatched roof rose, covered English country cottage that few people are fortunate to have but it is a dream for many
@jadefade8663 Жыл бұрын
Exactly, even in the suburbs you feel especially boxed in. I've got to experience the city, the country and the suburbs and if I had to choose I'd probably pick living out in the country but it's easier said than done.
@squarebear619 Жыл бұрын
It is definitely viewed with rose colored nostalgic glasses rather than the true reality. Small towns are often worse than big city living as it can be more insidious. I think most long for a nonexistent utopia though. It's like how people view the 50s and 60s as some great time period when they were anything but.
@UltravioletNomad Жыл бұрын
The description of Frog and Toad being children with an adult's freedom better puts in to perspective what exactly is going on with Spongebob, having a job and a house, but going to boating school and playing with simpler pleasures like bubbles and 'bug catching'.
@Taffyart Жыл бұрын
I think the idea that the are Lobel's inner voices is actually really beautiful. Frog represents the voice of self love and acceptance, and toad is the critic, protector, and stability.
@deanmoriarty6015 Жыл бұрын
there’s something to be said about this dichotomy of “youthful childlike optimist” and “pessimistic worn down cynic” that seems present in memorable childhood media Emplemon has a video on Spongebob Squarepants and basically states that it’s not only memorable for us but also still connects with us now because the contrast of Spongebob and Squidward as duos. Spongebob is us when we’re younger and how we see the world, Squidward is how we see ourselves and the world when we’re older. i think this can apply to Frog and Toad as well. i remember thinking as a child, “why does Toad always complain, why can’t it go his way, etc etc” but as i’ve gotten older i realized i relate to Toad more than i’d ever have wanted to admit.
@Taffyart Жыл бұрын
@@deanmoriarty6015 It parallels voices in our minds that psychologists often say are there to protect us. A youthful view that looks at the world with wonder and excitement, and then a protective adult. I don't think the voices are diametrically opposed. I'd say that SpongeBob and Squidward seem to be at odds with one another, mostly from the adult voices distain for the youthful wonder, but with toad and frog they are like two sides of the same coin. They are more complimentary then at odds with one another. A lot of plot comes from the misunderstanding from their view points, much like SpongeBob. I do think that the show SpongeBob makes a bit of a judgement on the Squidward voice, that he is just opposed to SpongeBob in order to be opposed. The resolution in that show can often come in a form of punishment at Squidwards expense, for example the episode where SpongeBob gets Squidward to indulge in a Krabby patty and it ends with Squidwards thighs exploding. It seems a judgement on the adult voice, while frog and toad don't judge each voice and instead note the genuine care and love behind each other's actions. I could imagine frog getting carried away with burgers and toad being opposed or nervous, but then toad saving him then trying a burger only to admit he likes the burger, but moderation is a better way to enjoy snacks.
@Taffyart Жыл бұрын
I will check out Emplemon's video though and thanks for the reply :)
@ash.mystic Жыл бұрын
Similarly, it also feels like a balance of feminine (intuitive/nurturing/right brain) and masculine (logical/protective/left brain) energy. Everyone has these in them, albeit in different ratios.
@xzysyndrome Жыл бұрын
It is a frog...and a toad. They are friends...they have stories. Damn Adults...ruin everything.
@cd4953 Жыл бұрын
This video is the adult equivalent to sitting on the carpet for storytime in kindergarten. Thank you for making this; it was strangely therapeutic. You posed interesting ideas and had me thinking the entire time.
@laimaravillon895 Жыл бұрын
exactly!
@catdragon2584 Жыл бұрын
I had a different interpretation of The Dream, but yours is great and it makes a lot of sense in the context of the series. My interpretation is that Toad is envisioning himself as the greatest in the world, and continually builds himself and his ego up by asking Frog if he could do whatever stunt Toad is doing. But he doesn’t know that he’s making Frog feel bad about himself (symbolized by Frog growing smaller every time he says no) until he’s disappeared. And Toad realizes being the greatest in the world means nothing if it costs him the most important person in his life.
@elizabethmartin6707 Жыл бұрын
Funny story, when I was in kindergarten we used to read their books and I was a huge fan. Well, we had a field trip to go to the local playhouse to see a Frog and Toad play. Naturally, I was super excited that I was going to see the real Frog and Toad. When the play started, two adult men walked out on stage claiming to be the titular characters. 6 year old me was so disappointed that it wasn’t an actual frog and toad that I was in a sour mood for the rest of the play. They did hand out animal crackers at the end, so it did make me feel a little better, but I never forgot that feeling of betrayal at being denied the "real" Frog and Toad.
@QualityCulture Жыл бұрын
This made me laugh, especially because I read about the play while researching and when I saw the photos I thought “ngl, I’d be disappointed if I saw this as a kid” 😂
@journey7701 Жыл бұрын
I saw the play on a 2nd grade school trip! I was also weirded out by the 2 adult men playing frog and toad but I remember their song about the cookies slapped
@emilyrln Жыл бұрын
They spent the costume budget on cookies 😂
@pezjunkie13 Жыл бұрын
That is the same reaction that JRR Tolkien allegedly had to seeing a production of Macbeth for the first time. He was so excited when “the woods” were to supposed to move against Macbeth, but it turned out just be the enemy army in disguise with branches etc. it is allegedly the reason he wrote the Ents rising against Isengard, because he wanted to see it for real. At least according the Lord of the Rings special features DVDs 😅
@Wawagirl17 Жыл бұрын
Oh my god, OP, that is SO stinkin' adorable. Being told you were gonna meet your actual celebrity icons live and in-person, only to have that dream ripped away. Tragic.
@NCHProductions Жыл бұрын
the one story from frog and toad that burnt deep into memory was the cookie story. the whole will power to not finish all the cookies... somehow, the illustrations for that particular stories, esp how they eat the cookies in every moment just really got me as a kid. always felt like I wanted to eat cookies after reading the story. it just feels "tasty" just seeing them eat the cookies in the drawing lol.... very rare I get such an effect from drawings so this is quite an exception.
@rhythmandblues_alibi Жыл бұрын
I felt the same way about the ice cream cone story, even though the ice cream is kind of grey and weird looking haha ☺️👌
@connor48880 Жыл бұрын
I always remember the one where Toad has that weird dream about performing on stage where Frog keeps shrinking
@patrickm6009 Жыл бұрын
If you listen to Arnold Lobel's reading of the cookie story, you actually hear him pausing to munch on some cookies.
@connor48880 Жыл бұрын
@@patrickm6009 THAT'S ADORABLE
@thecapone45 Жыл бұрын
Hate if this sours the mood but I sometimes think of this story when I’m struggling with not drinking booze and I think of this story and tell myself to not drink. Crazy how getting older turned the cookies to the bottle for me. 😅
@phillipbrown1467 Жыл бұрын
My single mom would read these to me as a baby. I'm a single dad that read them to my son as a baby. My earliest memories are of reading 'Frog and Toad are Friends' with my mom. Its a part of what kind of dad I am now. It's an important series to me and it looks like lots of others. This video makes the world seem smaller. Less unfamiliar.
@saiyamoru Жыл бұрын
This made me want to return to illustration. I'm an art student who really never did anything with their degree. I still graduated, but by that time I felt...burnt out. The passion went away at some point. I still remember that one of the best grades I ever got was from a children's illustration assignment. I really identified with the sentiment of 'making the world wholesome for kids, even if you don't feel it yourself'.
@jujubeethatsme Жыл бұрын
That's beautiful. I love illustration but I don't see many books or classes on it. So you recommend anything to get battery at it?
@kibs25639 ай бұрын
It feels like you're putting my thoughts into words, especially the sentiment. I also studied fine art for becoming a teacher, and I really love being a teacher. But my heart always beat for children's illustration and manga and comic and graphic novel and animation. University sucked the joy out of everything and I basically stopped working on anything until .... now, to be honest. I graduated three years ago and I love being a teacher really much, but I just wish that part of me hadn't died. I hope I can revive it one day. And I hope you will be able to do it, too.
@pnuthead13 Жыл бұрын
As a little girl I remember my child mind reacting to the stories often with deep concern for the characters. I was an anxious child. I read them to my son in my early 20’s and I watched his little face accept the stories for face value. He’s a kind person. In my late 40’s I’ve read them to my grandson who regularly interjects with frank, demanding questions. He is a quintessential, passionate problem solver. These books have been a joy in my life and I treasure them. Also I took the cookies at face value for portion control and will power struggles with food because that story was always just too real. 😂
@somepunkinthecomments471 Жыл бұрын
This actually was very comforting for me. Sometimes I feel like self help videos come from a perspective of an adult with adult problems, when sometimes there are childhood problems plaguing adulthood, so you have to approach the issues as if you were a kid still. I'm off to wash the dishes I've been putting off for nearly a month now. Thank you.
@phoeberose2429 Жыл бұрын
It might seem silly but about 10 minutes into this video I started crying, it wasn't quite a sad cry it was almost nostalgic of being a child and not knowing what emotion I was feeling. It was the most ok I had felt in a very long time, like I just let myself be and realised I was not alone. Thank you
@DarkVideogamer Жыл бұрын
I really like how in the alone story, neither is really shamed for how they feel. Cause there are people who often conflate being alone with being lonely, which I think is what Toad was doing. But he had entirely good intentions and wanted to make sure his friend didn't feel like he was alone, that they were still friends who could be there for each other. But Frog wasn't shamed for wanting to take time to himself to reflect on everything, wasn't told he was being anti-social or bad for taking time for himself. He simply just needed to communicate that with Toad and was more then content to enjoy their wet lunch together. it's just so sweet and touching.
@soopyGG Жыл бұрын
11:47 "I realize I'm basically doing Kindergarten storytime with a bunch of 20-to-30 year olds" ok, and? what of it?? keep going we love this
@emilyrln Жыл бұрын
I would unironically watch the hell out of that 😂
@DarkAngelEU Жыл бұрын
Sounds like an idea for a performance/event :D
@JP-ve7or Жыл бұрын
Me, 48: man, I'm really not the target demographic here 🤭
@fweedle Жыл бұрын
she has an audience for it :D
@kellil460 Жыл бұрын
Add in at least one 50yo - gen x in the house! 😂
@adelaide22 Жыл бұрын
I actually started crying with your summary of "Surprise," I've never seen that story before and it touched me so deeply. It's so hard to do acts of kindness and derive joy from them without the expectation of a reward, and it's so beautiful that such a deeply emotional concept can be expressed so simply in a single story.
@aethrya Жыл бұрын
Y'er kinda cute ;)
@TrollMcLolTheFirst Жыл бұрын
My mom read to me a frog and toad book and she would add her own spin on it by adding swear words like “these are some good motherfuckin cookies, Toad.” It was so funny to me as a kid.
@marcusdepompeis7879 Жыл бұрын
Ur mom is cool
@guacamolegoblin Жыл бұрын
thats motherfuckin awesome!!
@gammaghost2354 Жыл бұрын
This guys mom rules
@dadyos Жыл бұрын
Lmao my dad did the same shit with me with these books and berenstain bears
@avajarvis2588 Жыл бұрын
LMFAOOO
@TroubledTrooper Жыл бұрын
I think they can be anything to anyone, a gay relationship, an asexual relationship, a reminder of your brother who you spend time with and miss, a friend you loved. It's what makes these books great.
@nimapocalyse9569 Жыл бұрын
Yeah. This is the problem today. No one can appreciate the idea of UNIVERSAL appeal, that you can IDENTIFY with people that don't explicitly represent you. It's undoubtedly true that Lobel's viewpoint as a closeted gay man influenced his perspective as an author, but he didn't make these stories about "same sex love" or a commentary on LGBT issues and that's WHY they have such wide appeal and are beloved by so many. And it's exactly that reason why there's such a lack of these kinds of timeless stories today because modern writers feel like they MUST pigeonhole their characters and stories to be representative specific "identities" and "communities" rather than inherently human ideals, struggles, and values.
@CrystalRose1111 Жыл бұрын
@@nimapocalyse9569 Well both are important, some people have a severe lack of representation and want to see their experiences in media. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.
@nimapocalyse9569 Жыл бұрын
@@CrystalRose1111 you're absolutely correct, and there isn't anything inherently wrong with it. In fact, a specific viewpoint informed by one's unique identity or experience is often the thing that motivates someone to create art or a story to begin with. Where it becomes an issue in my opinion, and what we are seeing in excess today, is when the IDENTITY ITSELF becomes the entire focus of the story, even to the point where there is a fundamental LACK of universal appeal and at the expense of unifying endeavor. In fact, there are numerous identity based stories that writers and actors have outright said "are not for you" if you don't hold the featured identity, and then turn around and cry bigotry when audiences refuse to watch. I see it as a sad devolution of what I consider to be the fundamental art form of human nature.
@CrystalRose1111 Жыл бұрын
@@nimapocalyse9569 I mean it’s definitely a grey area because a lot of shows that try to promote inclusivity are poorly written. I’m all about inclusive shows are actually well written and entertaining to watch. The first one that comes to mind is She-Ra and the princess of power. A poor example would be that fuckin Velma series that’s coming out lol
@oz1747 Жыл бұрын
@@nimapocalyse9569 Yeah if your entire being is based on your skin tone , political ideology or who you sleep with, that's the problem. The idea that you can't identity with or learn something from someone who looks or thinks different than you is a serious issue... Do we need only black teachers for black students, gay teachers for gay students, Asian teachers..etc..Not to mention judges for courts....that's where this logic takes us...insane!
@streterttrrttrr356 Жыл бұрын
I don't know if it's intentional or not, but lately you've been posting lots of videos that I would put into the "Healing for the Soul" category (this is one of them too) and I thank you for that❣
@QualityCulture Жыл бұрын
Thank you, I really appreciate that 😊
@tammygant4216 Жыл бұрын
yes! I was trying to articulate that feeling I was feeling as I was listening, but I couldn't quite name it. You nailed it!
@blumeshullman8002 Жыл бұрын
The "wishing the best for children without enjoying their company" is something i deeply relate to.
@FloatingSunfish Жыл бұрын
As a frog, this honestly made me tear up a bit. What a wholesome series about two best friends enjoying the simple life together!
@createone100 Жыл бұрын
I read these to and with my son when he was a little guy. He’s nearly 47! Where did those years go!? We both have such lovely memories of the truly delightful ‘Frog and Toad’ books. Just precious. ♥️
@waitsbian Жыл бұрын
when i was in first grade, i read ‘alone.’ it meant so much for me as a asocial autistic kid who never really connected with other people, who would get chastised when i played alone and for not including other people, who would rather pace between trees whispering to myself than talk with anyone else at recess. it taught me that wanting to be solitary was ok.
@IrismonoYT Жыл бұрын
I actually called on Frog and Toad for one of my college application essays (wish me luck!). It's an example of perfect friendship, and one where (critically) they're not perfect equals. They are, by nature, different creatures, even if they're both amphibians. Frog is taller, more pleasant in demeanor, more even-headed, by most metrics he is Toad's superior. But that doesn't stop them from being friends. This is counter to several philosophical beliefs about friendship, particularly Aristotle's, who asserted that friendship among men was difficult and friendship between men and women impossible. Frog and Toad provides a beautiful example of the counterargument, that friendship is very much possible among unequals, all it really requires is altruism.
@emilysmith2965 Жыл бұрын
Counterpoint: people do not have to be THE SAME in order to be philosophically equal. Frankly, your characterization of women as inherently inferior is antiquated and not at all appropriate.
@IrismonoYT Жыл бұрын
@@emilysmith2965 I think you misunderstand my argument. I am in fact arguing that equality is not neccesary for friendship, which goes against Aristotle's notions. I do not believe women to be inherently inferior, though I do believe men and women to be different, even if many of the diferences are culturally based. Apples and Oranges are both fruit, and they can both be put in a fruit salad, and both be tasty, but they are nonetheless different, and there are some jobs apples do better than oranges and vice versa. Aristotle would argue there could be no friendship between apples and oranges, frogs and toads, or men and women, I disagree.
@SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand Жыл бұрын
These books were very important to me as a child, and I highly respect these great works of art. R.I.P. Arnold Lobel.
@ForlornFoundry Жыл бұрын
I hope you feel at least half of the overwhelming sense of comfort and joy I felt watching your breakdown of a childhood classic of mine. Your calm, soft narration and editing really brought this to the next level of video essays 😌
@hippothehippo Жыл бұрын
"The kind of person whom, when something goes wrong, goes to bed." Lobel has a better bead on me than any therapist ever has.
@emilysmith2965 Жыл бұрын
Ahem, definitely not me watching from bed
@smileyp4535 Жыл бұрын
Imagine a computer 2d animated movie about frog and toad in the water color aesthetic of the story books :)
@yourfriendlyneighborhoodgr3435 Жыл бұрын
that sounds amazing
@thefrog4990 Жыл бұрын
I would love this.
@GAwildflower Жыл бұрын
Would so love that. I grew up with Frog and Toad in the mid 70's. Actually I got a similar vibe from Hakumei To Mikochi when hubby showed it to me a few years ago.
@prismanic24 Жыл бұрын
Omg yes!!!
@crisptomato9495 Жыл бұрын
Like Ernest and Celestine!
@nesekaba Жыл бұрын
The vibes of Frog and Toad remind me of Little Bear. Cozy, slow, simple, laid back. There was a Little Bear episode about Winter Solstice that has stayed salient in my brain since I watched it as a small child.
@LpsRoseGold11 ай бұрын
I love the winter solstice episode too! (・∀・) It reminds me of all the feelings of a good Christmas!
@weaponizedmemes346111 ай бұрын
Little Bear is one of the best children’s shows I’ve seen. The music and illustrations are so beautiful and the vibe is more appropriate for kids than modern shows are.
@calebtaylor4153 Жыл бұрын
I remember, the first one I had (maybe the only one), and it was about Frog and Toad being unable to stop themselves from eating cookies. Later on, when I was older, I came to interpret it as a metaphor for handling addictions.
@m.donez8 Жыл бұрын
frog and toad is like getting a warm hug from an old friend 🥲
@femoman Жыл бұрын
You basically nailed one of the big drawbacks of cottagecore: it was never designed to be feasible as anything more than an aesthetic. It's mostly embraced by city dwellers who yearn for that quiet pastoral country life they see in stuff like this, little realising that the reality tends to be much grittier, messier and less comfortable. Country life isn't easy, especially farmlife where nowadays the options are basically to work on an industrial scale or to be really poor. This is probably why Cottagecore had that boom during the lockdowns when people could live their cosy country life fantasy of prairie dresses and flowerpressing and sourdough, but gradually faded as people realised that as a lifestyle, Cottagecore is unsustainable for most.
@pocketsand6776 Жыл бұрын
Media like this forms a chain back to that era which I guess Cottagecore attempts to re invoke. Either you have a so called "authentic" relation to pastoral life via your family, or you receive it as a mediated experience. It's all mediated now, you don't need to make your own flax linen from scratch etc. - and this is good!
@thehypercasual385 Жыл бұрын
but yearning for a cottage core lifestyle is not a bad thing. learning to grow a garden and make your own food, clothes, etc is a good thing.
@TheSuperRatt Жыл бұрын
That's kind of doing it a disservice. Cottagecore is a nostalgic escapism. Just like any fantasy, it serves a purpose. We can't have it, obviously, but that doesn't mean we can't emulate its spirit of finding joy in the little things, in quiet moments. It teaches us that we CAN be small, we can have sparse moments when we aren't being productive for our masters and just live for ourselves and the people we love. This attitude is sorely needed in a culture where "productivity" has become everything. In my country, if you aren't squeezing every drop of "usefulness" out of yourself every moment of the day, then you're considered worthless. A leech, a parasite. It's good to be told this isn't true.
@deanmoriarty6015 Жыл бұрын
cottage core as a trend seems more like an overcompensation for how hustle and bustle everyone’s life is, urban and suburban, but what they don’t realize is rural living isn’t all just kickbacks and hanging out doing nothing. i dont necessarily blame anybody for yearning for this kind of thing though. a break from interaction, a break from the concrete that surrounds us. most suburbs and urban areas don’t strike that balance of nature and civilization we as humans crave. (atleast in the us) there’s not many places to forget about your responsibilities for a bit. i live in midwest suburbia but there’s hardly any trees, any paths, anywhere for me to just take a bit of time off without sacrificing my entire way of life as is. if i even want a slice of it, i need to get in my car and drive atleast an hour. i’m rambling but i think people just crave that balance that hasn’t been given to us. of course we need to work, but we also need passions, hobbies, ways to disconnect for a little bit. ways to feel human that isn’t through a phone or a car or a workplace. i don’t know, just my take on it
@femoman Жыл бұрын
@@deanmoriarty6015 That's a fair point. Nothing wrong with escapism. It's just that for a lot of people Cottagecore is less about actually escaping the grind and emulating the quiet country life, and more about just looking like you do. It's like the main problem with the Dark Academia aesthetic, which is that it seems less concerned with actually being well-read and intellectual, and more with just looking the part. Like give Goblincore some credit, at least its philosophy is about more than just looking the part.
@Thejackofirishdiamon Жыл бұрын
Frog and Toad were among my first books that I ever owned. My first grade teacher bought one for me. That woman was a blessing to the world around her.
@lo_efilled Жыл бұрын
stumbling onto this without any prior knowledge to the toad and the frog and i ended up so overwhelmed w love and wholesome feelings in my heart by the end of it. thank you, im so glad you exist.
@natalydevous Жыл бұрын
The ending of this video (starting around 26:50) made me choke up, specifically the way frog and toad can represent our relationships with others and with ourselves. I like that the author was writing for himself, but created something in the process that is relatable to kids and adults alike. Really inspiring 💚
@alexisgonzaludo4949 Жыл бұрын
As a domestically inclined person, it’s nice to feel seen! Our culture totally overvalues travel and being on the go. I used to feel insecure about how I don’t travel for personal leisure as often as my peers, but I get a lot of satisfaction from making my space comfy and clean. I’m glad to have a reminder that that’s ok too.
@sandraperez2238 Жыл бұрын
Wow! I’m the same too! It’s so comforting to be home.
@JennsCorner777 Жыл бұрын
So when I was younger I used to want to travel the world. Growing into my 30's I felt really sad I hadn't lived that travel lifestyle. The more I learned about the world and countries I wanted to visit the less romanticized the idea became. My sister has traveled extensively as well as other family members and with the social media I see more of the world than I had before. Basically what I'm saying is now that I know more about the world and the countries I wanted to visit...the less I actually want to travel. What no one talks about are the dangers, the unkind people you encounter, language barriers, how certain tourist spots aren't worth it and are overcrowded. There's a lot more to traveling than going around and enjoying a vacation. It's not all it's cracked up to be I have learned and now don't feel badly about not traveling the world and am wiser about which places I'd like to see and which ones are hyped up or just downright unfriendly or dangerous. Don't feel badly about it. Plan a trip you'd want to go on, save up, research and see if it's really someplace worthwhile going from others that have gone that will note the good and bad. Traveling is fun and worthwhile but it isn't the end all be all. There is something to be said about having a home space that is your own and having be a safe and comforting place for you and others. Home is underrated and exotic locales are overrated. As the saying goes home is where the heart is and in the words of Dorothy- There's no place like home.
@NIHIL_EGO Жыл бұрын
I never really liked traveling. I much prefer my bed.
@shonuff9655 Жыл бұрын
This is some cozy youtube content. The music, the frog and toad, the gentle narration, I'm smoking my morning joint with coffee in my friends backyard in small town texas, slightly overcast with a good breeze. This is a vibe. I need more of these mornings in my life.
@mmps18 Жыл бұрын
I just bought all the Frog and Toad books for our son! I loved those growing up in the 1990s. So classic and wholesome and good.
@alfredopasta218 Жыл бұрын
I decided to pause this video, go for a walk in the fresh air, and finish later. This video is so comforting. Thank you! 🤍
@QualityCulture Жыл бұрын
I'm glad! Hope you enjoyed your walk 😊
@michaelguerrieri3486 Жыл бұрын
@@QualityCulture could do an article on warner bros . Please
@maddyc24126 ай бұрын
Me and my mother used to listen to rhe audiobooks while we baked, some of the best memories I have or will ever have. Frog and Toad are so special to me so it's beautiful to see that so many people can relate
@giovanniorellana2200 Жыл бұрын
I loved Frog and Toad growing up, and somehow this has never left my memories all these years later!
Жыл бұрын
love how this lures 'escapists to a simpler live' into reflecting their privileges in such a nice way, without the unhelpful and unjustified shaming that usually goes along with it.
@CaptainCaliansAdventures Жыл бұрын
I usually never watch these kinds of videos but after takin’ some time to lend an ear, I learned a lot and understood more about why this storybook brought me so much interest, peace and joy all these years as well as Studio Ghibli. I would read some of the stories with my niece during bedtime and always wondered why I felt so connected to their stories despite growin’ up in the rough parts of the city. This was a very well explained and thoughtful video. Thank ye very much.
@kyannastrain9247 Жыл бұрын
Pleaseeeeee do more videos like this! I know you can’t tell an artist what to focus on and how to put out their content, but I literally watch this on repeat. It brings me so much comfort and genuine appreciation for literature, arts, the books, my life, love, EVERYTHING. Thank you for this video. ❤
@kseniav586 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for this beautiful video! I'm not a native English speaker and have never read the books as a kid. I really loved stories about anthropomorphic animals though and it was nice to learn these stories through your video. Also, no book is ever "too simple" for analysis or a critical literacy class, children's books especially. It always good to see such authors taken seriously.
@sarahmcdowell5919 Жыл бұрын
I love this, I grew up reading these books. I love diving into philosophy and learning about the patterns we fall into as we grow up and become adults. Sometimes taking a step back and realizing “oh I don’t have to do this, I can try a different way or think differently” is really powerful and freeing, but it’s often difficult for us to realize we have this ability. Stellar video, and I really enjoyed your analysis.
@kellicos Жыл бұрын
I loved “Owl at Home”. In particular the story about tear-water tea. 40+ years later I still remember that.
@FatefulMedia3383 Жыл бұрын
To me this seems like Frog is the adult to Toad's manifestation of the inner child. Constantly cultivateing him to have the best life possible together.❤
@dillblas9139 Жыл бұрын
I remember reading these in like 2nd and 3rd grade. That's 11 years ago. Cool to hear it's still being shown to some students
@randybobandy4801 Жыл бұрын
Frog and Toad have always resonated with me. I lived in the country for the better part (in both senses of the word better) of my life. We are to this day lower middle class and I lived at home til very late. But for about 17 years I just rode my bike or walked over to someone’s house without calling and knocked on the door, and “hanging out” could literally mean helping with some little chore or just standing around looking at the scenery. We used to walk through the woods or down the roads for hours just philosophizing and riffing on things. And if my good friend next door, a grumpy but hilarious retired marine, was going to the shop to work on someone’s car or the grocery store or somewhere in town, he might call me or just stop by and see if I wanted to go with, just to pass some time in extremely idle conversation. There’s a stereotype that country people are not communal and that just isn’t so; I can tell you that in my experience, having to move into a neighborhood in the exurbs/suburbs is far lonelier than the rural life I used to have. That a community is small and not especially busy doesn’t mean it is not bound together with love and vivacity. You could call all that nostalgia but I experienced it as an adult up until a few years ago. Being alone together with a small, but close and trusted, extended family. One day again Inshallah
@yasminflower5140 Жыл бұрын
Same....i actually knew more people when me and my family used to live in a small village, now i barely know my neighbors
@rossim1918 Жыл бұрын
Each night after taking care of our mother during her last days which was emotionally draining, my two sisters and I would watch one of the Frog and Toad stories on KZfaq to help our hearts heal. Thank you for your insight on the author and stories, you warmed my heart. ❤
@citrusjuicebox Жыл бұрын
Around the same time this video was published, I suddenly felt nostalgic for Frog and Toad, and I bought a copy of the omnibus. I read it again and a lot of childhood memories welled up. Thank you for making this video.
@pumitriii6160 Жыл бұрын
Never thought someone could so articulately describe the indescribable feeling you get from Frog and Toad... but here we are
@JMoore-vo7ii Жыл бұрын
My dad and I reference the cookie jar story ALL the time! There is an element of simple storytelling here that can be a good point of reference for any artist. Just look at Lobel's descriptions of Toad or the fact he "didn't know what he was doing". Thank for this! :)
@heathergarnham9555 Жыл бұрын
My family tend to lean towards the Tomorrow story. Habits of procrastination but willing to get stuff done so we can procrastinate Tomorrow
@samerinaa Жыл бұрын
I loved frog & toad when i was a kid!! 💚💚I didn’t realize they had themes that adults relate to more than kids-now i want to go read them again!
@GabbaGh0ul Жыл бұрын
'Tomorrow' is a great concept for a story (as are the others!) - we are all so used and accustomed to "oh that is a problem for future me" but recently I have tried to adopt the mindset that tomorrow's me is a friend that I should look to help because he needs/deserves it. I prepare my coffee maker the night before work, I food prep early in the day for dinner later, check off my to-do list early so I can relax in the evening, and so on. It really has helped not just my future self but also my present self because I am less distracted by games/movies/etc. and doing more. Thank you Frog and Toad and thank you QC!
@wonderwhyiwonder3458 Жыл бұрын
I never realized Lobel was gay. It does add a certain poignancy, and also makes that quote about Hans Christian Anderson funnier somehow. ""Being alone together" is an all time classic quote for me.
@PabloKMorillo Жыл бұрын
this video broke my heart in a way that will only make it stronger
@DocBree139 ай бұрын
I’m 55, and I remember when the author came and visited our little town of 14,000 people when I was in grade school. It was the first time I’d seen a celebrity in real life, and it just made that book even more special to me.
@jerryrose9472Ай бұрын
Two years ago I moved to Houston to further my career. It was very lonely being so far away from my family and friends in the Midwest. On days when I felt depressed I would watch this video. I would communicate my distress to my partner by telling them I was "having a frog and toad day". I still watch this video when I need life to be a little simpler than it is.
@Thekawaiiasian101vid Жыл бұрын
i used to read these books all the time at my local library. i didn’t expect to ever see a video essay on them but this is so pure
@bleepbloop8081 Жыл бұрын
Frog and Toad hopped so that CottageCore lesbians could run
@saltyfries680 Жыл бұрын
Ok but ain’t NOBODY doing it like the lads Frog and Toad
@amandasunshine2 Жыл бұрын
This is it. The best sentence.
@mayln163 Жыл бұрын
🤣
@Emmatriaaa Жыл бұрын
Beautifully said.
@dandywaysofliving Жыл бұрын
I have a short that I consider cottage cored. And old frog living
@ladyibis580 Жыл бұрын
I was so pleased to see you mention Mary Oliver, she's one of my favourite poets. My favourite piece of hers has to be 'The Swan', especially the closing lines of the poem: _And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?_ _And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?_ _And have you changed your life?_
@alexejv.1969 Жыл бұрын
I've never read this book (I´m from Easter Europe) but I´ve seen it a lot. I´m happy that I found your video because, MAN, am I going to read this book now. There are just a lot of feelings I've been having lately that this book seems to describe. Thank you so much for introducing me to this book!
@songpoetry1 Жыл бұрын
I must admit that I wasn't familiar with frog and toad before and got here via KZfaq algorithm, but now I want them for my kids. Such wholesome stories. It spoke to my soul when you mentioned kids appreciating stories with substance as well. It's always bothered me that there aren't more of the deeper type of stories for children.
@joemathewson4198 Жыл бұрын
I feel like i read these as a child but I really remember the meme going around where toad said “we must stop eating” as he ate another. Describes my life perfectly lol
@GotchaProductions Жыл бұрын
That little story about willpower and cookies still stuck to me to this day. Loved these books growing up
@uhsaywhatnow Жыл бұрын
I’ve bought this books series as a gift for every baby shower I’ve ever attended. Frog & Toad are a rad childhood vibe.
@RuviGaPo Жыл бұрын
Treating future me as a friend or even a co worker is genuinely helpful. It's like... oh heck future me is a person !! I should help make their job easier!
@fineandnatural Жыл бұрын
That's an awesome philosophy/advice
@RuviGaPo Жыл бұрын
@@fineandnatural thank you !! Lol i like to find ways to trick my brain into caring about my well weing even tho it's hard, given we're all just in our heads all the time. Extermalizing your well being is like.. one way to go about it like,, i feel good when i take care of my flowers, but i don't think of it as doing it for Me, i'm doing it for the flowers, and vise versa. It also just has the added benefit of feeling less alone so Yay !!
@thefrog4990 Жыл бұрын
I love this. I really should treat myself better.
@RedApples91 Жыл бұрын
This was so lovely!!! I never read the stories as a child, but I'm sure I would've loved them. You talked about a lot of things that I'm working on/struggling with in my life (feeling petrified by how much I should be doing or learning how to appreciate all the little things in life for example). It's comforting to know, that these struggles and feelings are universal.
@sundownsahara Жыл бұрын
As a Children's Librarian I love this, thanks for making it!
@josequintana1457 Жыл бұрын
This kind of content is rare and I really appreciate it 🙌🏼 thank you !
@SaltySirenFloriduh Жыл бұрын
As a homeschooling mama who gets to explore the classic, nostalgia inducing books of my childhood all over again, I really enjoyed this video. It explains why I love this series so much myself.
@NuriaLuce Жыл бұрын
I just love the feeling that two beloved series, "Frog and Toad" and "Moomin", had found an important place on the queer community. Both authors (also lgbt) could look at today and see how their stories feel so like home to part of their community, with their cozy and nearly cottagecore feelings.
@QualityCulture Жыл бұрын
That’s a very sweet thought :)
@thebigcanoftuna Жыл бұрын
I didn't know that the authors were lgbtq but I loved and still love Frog and Toad and the Moomintrolls. They're very popular in my home country. The stories are very wholesome and cute ❤️
@oliviasommerville4733 Жыл бұрын
I always loved the idea of a “found family”, which involves familial or strong platonic bonds instead of romantic ones. Frog and Toad are a good example of this.
@hi-ve1cw Жыл бұрын
@@thebigcanoftuna the author of frog and toad was a closeted gay man, he had a wife and kids and came out as gay late in life. After his death his daughter said she thinks her dad wrote the books as a way to express and come to terms with his own homosexuality. They're books about two male frogs who clearly love eachother, their relationship is like that of an old married couple
@JohnRBIV Жыл бұрын
Yeah and now everybody thinks I wanna bang a dude because I want to live in a hobbit hole thanks guys
@ShamanJeeves Жыл бұрын
Subscribed! Not nearly enough adults recognize the importance of truly good literature for children. This was a triumph of a video, and I look forward to viewing more of your productions.
@Fredyy33 Жыл бұрын
I never heard of frog and toad but you reading them and talking about them was heartwarming. Def will show them to my niece
@KMRossy Жыл бұрын
My mom would read these to me all the time! I loved how relaxing your video was about Frog and Toad, it made me feel soothed, like I was back listening to my mom reading to me. 💕
@QualityCulture Жыл бұрын
How sweet, thank you 🥺❤️
@KMRossy Жыл бұрын
@@QualityCulture 💖💖
@graciemargot8689 Жыл бұрын
My favourite channel talking about my favourite childhood books 🥰🍂🐸
@tacthom Жыл бұрын
These are the books of my childhood 😍, so sweet, innocent, and special. I would read them every summer ritually and habitually.
@alliegruman71104 ай бұрын
This is such a thoughtful and lovely look at some of my favorite childhood books! -and such a calming cadence of speaking. This is one of my favorite new comfort videos (second to your analysis of Over the Garden Wall!). 😊
@sweeneylens Жыл бұрын
I didn’t grow up with this book series, so this was a delightful introduction to Frog and Toad. Thanks for sharing this. And happy autumn!
@JustAnotherNameYo Жыл бұрын
I moved to Panama for two years when I was little and had only brought 4 books one of them being Frog and Toad Together. I read over and over and over again during those years. I hadn’t yet learned Spanish yet and they were the only English books we had for me. Frog and Toad gave me a lot of comfort. Thanks for reminding me of something I’d forgotten.
@realwit Жыл бұрын
Thank you for making this! I listened to it on a walk today and it made me really happy. I felt a lot of gratitude and cried a bit. I love Frog and Toad and your analysis 💕
@farmerjon_athan8 ай бұрын
Amazing take speaking on rural living, thank you. Before the pandemic I was farming and so often volunteers would come out wanting to help and 80% of them would leave within the first two hours because ONE ant bit them or just simply sweating made them realize they would much rather be back in air conditioning.
@themightylordhelix5233 Жыл бұрын
God I remember this.. A beloved teacher of mine absolutely adored frogs and she read these stories to us in 2nd grade. She made me love reading and my life never would’ve been the literary filled one it is now without her and these amphibians.
@MJ-dj4yf Жыл бұрын
I didn't expect to cry while watching this video. But I did.
@user-jo3go8fe3g Жыл бұрын
Same lol
@pittsburghlife32 Жыл бұрын
My mom used to read these to me as a kid seeing this definitely brought back some memories
@ultimate81253 ай бұрын
Had this in my watch later since over a year, finally watched ir and I'm glad I did, good work
@hopemonsod Жыл бұрын
MAN I STARTED TEARING UP NEAR THE END, THIS BOOK IS SO GODDAMN WHOLESOME, I SHOULD GIVE IT A READ SOMETIME😭😭 Amazing video, keep up the good work! Subbed!
@rhythmandblues_alibi Жыл бұрын
I'd never seen the claymation before and at first I found it creepy (the lack of necks 😳) but it kind of grew on me and I really liked the voice acting too. So thanks for including that.
@DrDingsGaster Жыл бұрын
I love Frog and Toad. They were some of my favourite books to read growing up and their messages and life speaks to me even now. I also wasn't expecting to tear up at the conclusion xD;
@RaeInTime Жыл бұрын
What a wonderful video! "Treating future me like a friend" is going to be life-changing for me! Love it! ❤
@carolinecrowley3385 Жыл бұрын
Didn't plan to spend my Sunday crying over a philosophical analysis of 2 gay frogs, but here i am living for it
@honeywren Жыл бұрын
literally me i sobbed throughout this video
@esotericvv1244 Жыл бұрын
I saved this video for later please don't tell me they are gay.... ffs
@chashubokchoy8999 Жыл бұрын
@@esotericvv1244hey can be anything you want them to be. “death of the artist” theory, authorial intent is nil. though i do think he intended them to be gay.
@alexanderklepp Жыл бұрын
I remember reading the books and watching the videos as a kid and the behind the scenes may have been the first time that I learned about stop motion and since then the art form has always fascinated me.