Frog and Toad Are Friends
by Arnold Lobel
As most four year olds are persnickety when it comes to books, my daughter is no exception. I always keep that in mind whenever I choose a book. But when I spotted this 1970 copy of Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad are Friends at the local thrift shop, I knew she would like it. And I was right, poor dear ol’ dad has been reading this same book to her every night for the last two months! Luckily for him there are five short stories to choose from.
excerpt from “The Story”
One day in summer Frog was not feeling well.
Toad said, “Frog, you are looking quite green.”
“But I always look green,” said Frog. “I am a frog.”
“Today you look very green even for a frog,” said Toad.
I love Lobel’s brilliant ability to capture the simple meaning of friendship and transform it into picture book stories children can relate to. The soft ink and watercolor illustrations set up a warm tone to the story.
Whether it be helping find a lost button, going down to the river for a swim, or just helping a friend cheer up on a bad day, Frog and Toad are there for each other. Did I mention it’s also a Caldecott Honor book? Thumbs up to Arnold Lobel in making the beloved amphibian duo part of our family’s all-time favorite reads.
Review by: Kids Books Blog
