Earlier this year, I created a short frog cartoon for Easter featuring Frog and Frog (from Frog’s Bucket List). And I have another one for you today. By the way, my next Frog’s Bucket List book (‘Summer Holiday’) is progressing well. However, Frog and Frog are having such a good time on holiday that I’m not sure if I’ll be able to publish it this year. If not – then it’ll be very early next year, so watch this space. Many of the little froggy illustrations are making me laugh out loud as I paint them. So thank you for your patience on this, I promise it’ll be good. On to my latest frog cartoon then: “The Lunchbox Surprise”…

Frog cartoon background

Like “The Easter Surprise”, I’ve kept “The Lunchbox Surprise” in black and white. For those of you who are familiar with my Frog’s Bucket List illustrations, you’ll know that I use watercolours to add colour. However, I’m still curious to explore the ‘comic strip’ style some more. I like to pretend that I could be a cartoonist sometimes, I think that would be fun. So no watercolours today, just pen and paper.

For this frog cartoon, I’ve used Daler-Rowney watercolour paper and Uni Pin Fineliner pens, which I might add are remarkable value for money. They last ages. I have drawn hundreds of frogs now, and I’m convinced I’ll wear the nib down before the ink runs out.

Back to the cartoon. Basically, Frog had an item to tick off her bucket list this weekend, and the resulting story is based around that. Cute overload warning.

Enjoy!

“The Lunchbox Surprise” starring Frog and Frog

The title image for "The Lunchbox Surprise" - a Frog's Bucket List special by Ruth Burton. Frog is cooking in a messy kitchen.

Frog was having an industrious morning in the kitchen.

All the pots and pans were out, cupboard doors open, ingredients on every surface. Treats were baking in the oven, tasty morsels cooking in the frying pan.

Frog had big ideas and was working very hard indeed.

After lots of chopping, blending, dicing, and peeling, Frog was exhausted! But her culinary creation was complete.

She had made a bento box!

A cartoon style drawing by Ruth Burton. Frog's finished bento box lunchbox with a messy rice rabbit and cat dessert.

Excited and eager to show Frog, she grabbed the lunch box and headed straight out to the park, where they had agreed to meet.

A comic-strip style drawing showing Frog giving Frog the messy bento box. Frog is wearing a rucksack.

She had made the bento box for Frog! What a lovely surprise, he thought. It made Frog feel all fuzzy and warm.

But wait – Frog also had a surprise for Frog…

A comic style drawing of Frog giving Frog his lunchbox that he made for her. His rucksack is open.

He had made her a bento lunchbox too! What a lovely surprise, she thought. It made Frog feel all fuzzy and warm.

The final frog cartoon drawing in "The Lunchbox Surprise" which shows Frog and Frog sitting on a park bench sharing their lunchboxes. Part of Frog's Bucket List by Ruth Burton.

They sat on the park bench, sharing the bento they had made for each other, feeling very lucky indeed.

The End.

Inspiration

The idea came after a discussion about bento boxes with my family the other week. And I’ve become slightly obsessed with them ever since. It wasn’t long before Frog caught onto the thought. One thing led to another, and before I knew it the story had fallen onto the pages of my frog sketchbook.

A photograph showing Ruth Burton sketching an idea for "The Lunchbox Surprise" cartoon special (part of Frog's Bucket List).

Frog’s Bucket List

Frog tells me that the bucket list item she has ticked off this weekend is “Make a bento box (for Frog)” – tick!

Which gives me an idea… I would like to do more frog cartoon style stories, perhaps I could illustrate stories based around bucket list items…?

I hope you enjoyed today’s little cartoon anyway.

And if you’re new to my Frog’s Bucket List series then feel free to visit the official website for more information. My gallery has some of my earlier frog watercolours too, if you want more frog cartoon illustrations.

I’ll keep you updated with any future book updates.

Until then – take care and be kind to yourself.