Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad Are
Friends is an outstanding saga of friendship between two very different
personalities. Toad – well, he’s a bit grumpy. Frog – always ebullient. In the
first of five short chapters for new readers, springtime has arrived but Frog
cannot get Toad to arise and enjoy the sunshine even though Toad has been
asleep since November.
“What you see is the clear warm
light of April. And it means that we can begin a whole new year together, Toad.
Think of it,” said Frog. “We will skip through the meadows and run through the
woods and swim in the river. In the evenings we will sit right here on this
front porch and count the stars.”
“You can count them, Frog,” said
Toad. “I will be too tired. I am going back to bed… Come and wake me up at
about half past May.”
Frog resourcefully pulls off old
calendar pages until he gets to May. Toad awakes exclaiming “Why, it is May!”
and runs outside with Frog to enjoy the springtime. This is just the first of
the loving and supportive gestures between Frog and Toad. Frog tries to find
just the right replacement button for Toad; Toad tells Frog a good story when
he is sick; Toad worries about looking funny in his bathing suit; and when Toad
longs to receive a letter, you can imagine what happens.
“Dear Toad, I am glad that you are
my best friend. Your best friend, Frog.”
“Oh,” said Toad, “that makes a
very good letter.”
This, like the other Frog and Toad
books, is a simple testament to civilized conflict resolution! Lobel is the
well-loved author and illustrator of numerous fine books, receiving the
Caldecott Medal and Caldecott Honor award among many others. His stories are
gentle and truthful. Ages 4-8.
