Ferdinand B. Frog

Ferdinand is a bullfrog.  When he speaks in his deep voice he says, “RUM-TUM-CHUG-A-RUM; RUM-TUM-CHUG-A-RUM.”  It sounds like Ferdinand is playing on a big bass drum.

Ferdinand lives down on the marsh that edges the beaver pond.   Ferdinand RUM-TUM-CHUG-A-RUMS all day and all night long.  Ferdinand plays his drum while other little froggies sing their Froggie songs down on the marsh beyond the field and near the beaver pond. 

They are all very happy living there among the lilies and cat-o-nines playing leap frog and hop-scotch tag and having a good time all spring and summer, and in the autumn right up until winter comes.  You may see the frogs playing on the marsh and hear Ferdinand sing his bass drum song; RUM-TUM-CHUG-A RUM.

Listen, you may hear him singing like a drum as he sits among the cat-o-nines or on a lily-pad or hops onto a rock or log to catch a little sun. When you hear a RUM-TUM-CHUG-A-RUM, That id Ferdinand B. Frog.

Ferdinand swims in the water staying cool in the summertime sun.  He plays leapfrog with the other frogs and plays on his bass drum; RUM-TUM-CHUG-A-RUM, RUM-TUM-CHUG-A-RUM.  He has lots of fun.

Sometimes Ferdinand takes a nap in the shallow water with the water clear up to his chin.  He doesn’t sleep for very long before his chug a rum singing begins, a little different than before.  When Ferdinand sleeps, he sounds more like this, CHUG-CHUG- GA- RRRUUMM-CHUG, the sound when a bullfrog snores; but

soon he’s awake and the rhythm of the bass drum begins; RUM-TUM-CHUG-A-RUM-TUM.  Ferdinand B. Frog is a handsome bullfrog with a great big silly frog grin.  He likes to sit upon a log beside the water’s edge but if some danger should come by, he quickly jumps into the water and hides beneath the lily pads; and Ferdinand stays there, not making a sound, not even one RUM-TUM-RUM-TUM- TUM until he knows it’s safe again.   

When Ferdinand gets hungry, he catches flies with his long tongue, he catches little spiders and little bugs to eat and sometimes he snatches a dragon fly.  A dragon fly is a gigantic treat for Ferdinand and he likes them very much.  Bullfrogs like Ferdinand love dragonflies to eat.   Dragonflies are even better than chocolate ice cream or strawberry shortcake.  If there is a dragonfly around, Ferdinand can hardly wait for it to fly just a little closer.  He also loves butterflies and bumblebees but he thinks dragonflies are the very best.  Ferdinand will eat most any insect that he sees.  That’s what bullfrogs do, and if you were a bullfrog, so would you.  Dragonflies are Ferdinand’s favorite treat.  They are even better than orange popsicles or mustard on hot dogs. Dragonflies are like candy to a frog.  He likes them even more than your favorite ice cream cone or candy bar.  A dragonfly is the bestest treat to a bullfrog like Ferdinand by far.

Ferdinand is watching as a dragonfly comes flying near the lily pads.  Dragonflies are out today and Ferdinand is very glad.  He watches it fly closer, ‘round and ‘round in the summer sun, then SNATCH, Ferdinand has caught it on his long, sticky tong.  It is going down his bullfrog throat and tickling his tummy.  Ferdinand smacks his bullfrog lips and smiles.  He thinks dragonflies are very, very yummy.

To a bullfrog, dragonflies are even better than pizza on a plate, better than apple pie or carrot cake with peanut butter frosting; better than cheeseburgers and French-fries, or even spaghetti.  I know, because Ferdinand B. Frog told me.  He said, there is nothing tastier to a bullfrog than a yummy dragonfly.  But you wouldn’t want to eat a dragonfly, would you?  Neither would I.

When Ferdinand has had his fill, he might sleep for a little while, resting on a lily-pad and wearing a froggy smile, all happy and contented and feeling very good; glad to be a bullfrog just the way a bullfrog should.  

When he wakes up, he will stretch and yawn and might decide to take a swim.  He blinks his eyes and gives a hop and Ferdinand jumps right in.  Ferdinand B. Frog likes to hop and jump and swim and play leap frog with the other frogs that live by the beaver pond or just sit on a log or a lily-pad and sing his CHUG-A-RUM song. RUM-TUM-CHUG-A-RUM, RUM-TUM-CHUG-A-RUM-TUM-RUM.

If you listen very carefully when summertime is here, you’ll hear the bullfrog singing RUM-TUM-CHUG-A-RUM.  Listen, can you hear him, hear that sound of a bass drum. That is Ferdinand B. Frog. RUM-TUM-CHUG-A-RUM, RUM-TUM-CHUG-A-RUM-TUM-RUM.