The Frog Who Wanted to Fly

An illustrated stories story from Wonder Books — free to read, with narration.

The Frog Who Wanted to Fly — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

The Frog Who Wanted to Fly — book cover — Wonder Books
The Frog Who Wanted to Fly — an illustrated stories story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.

Page 1

Barnaby the frog dreamt of flying. Not just a little hop, mind you, but soaring through the clouds like the swallows he envied.
Barnaby the frog dreamt of flying. Not just a little hop, mind you, but soaring through the clouds like the swallows he envied. His best friend, Penelope the snail, often found him gazing wistfully at the sky from their favorite lily pad. "Barnaby, darling," she'd say, "frogs are meant to swim, not fly." But Barnaby wouldn't listen. One sunny morning, he announced, "Today's the day, Penelope!

Barnaby the frog dreamt of flying. Not just a little hop, mind you, but soaring through the clouds like the swallows he envied. His best friend, Penelope the snail, often found him gazing wistfully at the sky from their favorite lily pad. "Barnaby, darling," she'd say, "frogs are meant to swim, not fly." But Barnaby wouldn't listen. One sunny morning, he announced, "Today's the day, Penelope! I'm going to fly!" Penelope, ever practical, simply sighed and tucked herself further into her shell. This crazy frog, she thought, was in for a big surprise.

Page 2

Barnaby's first attempt was... less than graceful. He flapped his arms furiously, managed a pathetic little hop, and landed with a sploosh back in the pond.
Barnaby's first attempt was... less than graceful. He flapped his arms furiously, managed a pathetic little hop, and landed with a sploosh back in the pond. Penelope peeked out of her shell. "Perhaps," she said gently, "flying isn't as easy as it looks." Barnaby, undeterred, shook the water from his eyes. "Nonsense, Penelope! I just need a running start! But I can't run very well.

Barnaby's first attempt was... less than graceful. He flapped his arms furiously, managed a pathetic little hop, and landed with a sploosh back in the pond. Penelope peeked out of her shell. "Perhaps," she said gently, "flying isn't as easy as it looks." Barnaby, undeterred, shook the water from his eyes. "Nonsense, Penelope! I just need a running start! But I can't run very well. I need something to launch me into the sky!" Just then, a large, colorful butterfly fluttered past. Barnaby's eyes widened. An idea sparked.

Page 3

"I've got it, Penelope! I'll hitch a ride on a butterfly!" Barnaby declared triumphantly. "Surely, one of those beauties can carry me high into the sky!"…
"I've got it, Penelope! I'll hitch a ride on a butterfly!" Barnaby declared triumphantly. "Surely, one of those beauties can carry me high into the sky!" Penelope gasped. "Barnaby, that's... ambitious, even for you." Still, she knew arguing was futile once Barnaby set his mind to something. She sighed, "Well, be careful.

"I've got it, Penelope! I'll hitch a ride on a butterfly!" Barnaby declared triumphantly. "Surely, one of those beauties can carry me high into the sky!" Penelope gasped. "Barnaby, that's... ambitious, even for you." Still, she knew arguing was futile once Barnaby set his mind to something. She sighed, "Well, be careful. Butterflies aren't exactly known for their weight-lifting abilities." Barnaby grinned, grabbed a dandelion stalk, and set off towards the meadow where the butterflies danced. "Therefore I must find a big butterfly!" he exclaimed.

Page 4

The meadow buzzed with life. Barnaby approached a particularly large Monarch butterfly, its wings a dazzling orange and black.
The meadow buzzed with life. Barnaby approached a particularly large Monarch butterfly, its wings a dazzling orange and black. "Excuse me, madam," Barnaby began politely. "Would you be so kind as to give a small frog a ride to the clouds?" The butterfly, whose name was Beatrice, chuckled, a sound like rustling leaves. "A frog? Flying? My dear fellow, that's quite absurd!

The meadow buzzed with life. Barnaby approached a particularly large Monarch butterfly, its wings a dazzling orange and black. "Excuse me, madam," Barnaby began politely. "Would you be so kind as to give a small frog a ride to the clouds?" The butterfly, whose name was Beatrice, chuckled, a sound like rustling leaves. "A frog? Flying? My dear fellow, that's quite absurd! I can barely carry myself across this meadow!" Just then, a gruff voice boomed, "Having trouble, Beatrice?" A large, grumpy-looking beetle lumbered over.

Page 5

“Well, Barnaby here seems to have a rather… ambitious request,” Beatrice explained, gesturing with a delicate leg towards the hopeful frog. Bartholomew snorted.
“Well, Barnaby here seems to have a rather… ambitious request,” Beatrice explained, gesturing with a delicate leg towards the hopeful frog. Bartholomew snorted. “Ambitious? It’s ridiculous! Frogs hop, they don't fly.” He turned his attention to Barnaby, fixing him with a stern gaze. “You should be catching flies, young fellow, not dreaming of the clouds.” Penelope, who had been quietly observing from atop a dandelion, chirped up.

“Well, Barnaby here seems to have a rather… ambitious request,” Beatrice explained, gesturing with a delicate leg towards the hopeful frog. Bartholomew snorted. “Ambitious? It’s ridiculous! Frogs hop, they don't fly.” He turned his attention to Barnaby, fixing him with a stern gaze. “You should be catching flies, young fellow, not dreaming of the clouds.” Penelope, who had been quietly observing from atop a dandelion, chirped up. "Perhaps," she suggested sweetly, "we could *help* Barnaby find another way to see the world from above?" Bartholomew grumbled something under his breath but remained silent.

Page 6

Bartholomew chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest.
Bartholomew chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest.

Bartholomew chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest.

Page 7

Barnaby tumbled through the air, yelling, "I AM FLYIIIING!" He was not flying. He was falling, and Bartholomew was already lumbering into place underneath him.
Barnaby tumbled through the air, yelling, "I AM FLYIIIING!" He was not flying. He was falling, and Bartholomew was already lumbering into place underneath him. "Spread your toes, lad!" the old frog bellowed up at him. "Spread them as wide as they go!"

Barnaby tumbled through the air, yelling, "I AM FLYIIIING!" He was not flying. He was falling, and Bartholomew was already lumbering into place underneath him. "Spread your toes, lad!" the old frog bellowed up at him. "Spread them as wide as they go!"

Page 8

Barnaby wiggled his toes with all his might. To his surprise, he started to... glide! Not flying, exactly, but floating gently downwards like a feathery seed…
Barnaby wiggled his toes with all his might. To his surprise, he started to... glide! Not flying, exactly, but floating gently downwards like a feathery seed himself.

Barnaby wiggled his toes with all his might. To his surprise, he started to... glide! Not flying, exactly, but floating gently downwards like a feathery seed himself.

Page 9

The Frog Who Wanted to Fly — page 9 illustration — Wonder Books
The Frog Who Wanted to Fly — page 9 illustration — Wonder Books

Penelope beamed with pride.

Page 10

From that day on, Barnaby still dreamt of flying, but he also appreciated the joy of floating. He even invented a new game: Dandelion Gliding, which he and…
From that day on, Barnaby still dreamt of flying, but he also appreciated the joy of floating. He even invented a new game: Dandelion Gliding, which he and Penelope played every sunny afternoon. He realized that even if you don't achieve your dreams in the way you expect, there's always fun to be found along the way. Besides, sometimes the silliest dreams are the most rewarding! Now Barnaby embraces life and knows laughter is the best flight of all. And Penelope?

From that day on, Barnaby still dreamt of flying, but he also appreciated the joy of floating. He even invented a new game: Dandelion Gliding, which he and Penelope played every sunny afternoon. He realized that even if you don't achieve your dreams in the way you expect, there's always fun to be found along the way. Besides, sometimes the silliest dreams are the most rewarding! Now Barnaby embraces life and knows laughter is the best flight of all. And Penelope? She continues to smile at his crazy adventures.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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