Frog and Toad Are Friends

Written by Arnold Lobel

Narrated by Arnold Lobel

Celebrate the power of friendship in these five adventurous stories starring Frog and Toad—a Caldecott Honor Book!

From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other—just as best friends should be. Frog and Toad Are Friends is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.

The classic Frog and Toad stories by Arnold Lobel have won numerous awards and honors, including a Newbery Honor (Frog and Toad Together), a Caldecott Honor (Frog and Toad are Friends), ALA Notable Children’s Book, Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book), School Library Journal Best Children’s Book, and Library of Congress Children’s Book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: May 20, 2008
• ISBN: 9780061712302

Arnold Lobel

ARNOLD LOBEL is the author of 28 much-loved books for children, including the acclaimed Frog and Toad series. He won the 1981 Caldecott medal for his book Fables, having previously won a Caldecott Honor in 1971 for Frog and Toad are Friends and a Newbery Honor in 1973 for Frog and Toad Together. He illustrated over 70 books throughout his career. He died in 1987.

Reviews for Frog and Toad Are Friends

[linyarai · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this for the "A Strong Friendship Theme" part of my 2020 reading challenge. I thought it was cute, I liked the artwork and how much Frog & Toad help each other and are there to support each other.

[chantalberho · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is an early chapter book for the primary grades. This book is in the fantasy genre. In this ink and wash book, Frog and Toad are on a different adventure for each chapter. The two friends are constantly doing some mindless task such as looking all over the forest for a lost button, which they soon find is at home. No matter what happens in each story, Frog and Toad are best of friends and put their minds together in everything they do. This book could be used in lessons about friendships.This book could be used for independent reading or small reading groups.This book characterizes both Frog and Toad as small, simple creatures with simple minds. The illustrations reinforce this as they are done with very little color, and the clothing they wear and things they do reinforce the words on the page.This is a good example of fantasy because two amphibians can talk and are best of friends. There are also lots of other animals who speak in the stories, and all are personified.

[oliviabarrett11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Frog and toad books are great for the second grade levels. The way that the frog and toad are friends and always there for each other. Children learn to trust and have fun with others when they can. Throughout this book they were always there for each other when they were either mad or angry. Teachers could really use this with second graders.

[linnaea44 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A great beginning read for children, although there are not too many pictures I still enjoyed the book. I think this would be great for bedtime and could be used to teach or emphasize the importance of friends.

[meditationesmartini · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was my main Frog and Toad as a kid, and rereading it now it's a bit more plodding than Frog and Toad Together, the one with the tandem bike on the front that is my son's main Frog and Toad, and doesn't really get into Lobel's light surreal touches and winks at the grups that are a later trademark, but I was the kind of slightly plodding toddler that loved saying things like "all cozy!" so, you know, plenty of time for surrealism DOWN THE LINE.

[amandalk-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is a modern fantasy with personified animal characters, called anthropomorphic characters. A classic read for kids, the Frog and Toad books teach valuable lessons while bringing students along on the adventure. I would keep this in my classroom library.

[elizajane_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reason for Reading: Son read aloud to me as his reader.The first book in the Frog and Toad series and a Caldecott honor winner this book introduces us to the now classic characters with the familiar format of five short stories of their friendship. Of two different natures, they bring out the best in each other and enjoy life and nature to the fullest. The simple stories will delight young and old alike. My son, now on the old side for these books, but just at the perfect reading level for him, still enjoys the simple, honest humour found within the pages. He enjoyed this book and wants to read the last one we still have left in the series to read. A perennial favourite and a keeper for my shelves!

[l_cochran · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have always loved Arnold Lobel and I think that this books is certainly a classic. I love that it is broken up into little short stories, and how easily Lobel can convey the different personalities of his characters. I think it would help children learn about the importance of friendship, and would be great for a student who was beginning to learn how to read.

[kshielee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a poor example of fantasy because there are not forces of good and evil and there is no magic, but the story could not happen in the real world. Frog is a round character because he is well developed and changes throughout the story.

[dgadkins88 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Frog and Toad agreed: it was a perfect day for a swim. And Frog was kind enough not to look at Toad in his bathing suit, per Toad's request. But when the swimming was over, a crowd had gathered to see Toad in his funny-looking suit, and neither Frog nor Toad could make them leave.

[aconant05 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Frog and Toad have little adventures and mistakes, but everything always ends up okay because of their true friendship with each other.

[crowyhead · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best kids' books ever! It makes me warm and fuzzy.

[iamryancorcoran · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Must have for frog and toad fans. Loved this series as a child.

[eric.osborn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Children's classic stories. Great adventures and great friends.

[kkaspy-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Can be used in lower grades to teach about friendship, sharing, and love between friends.

[dknight0918 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Toad is my favorite.

[gundulabaehre · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I simply adore the supremely cute illustrations. They are sweet and evocative, and in my opinion, they tell the story of frog and toad's friendship in a way that the rather simplistic narrative just does not and cannot. I know that Frog and Toad Are Friends is a classic of American children's literature and that for many, the book likely holds very fond and nostalgic childhood memories. However, I found the text rather dragging when I read this book as a child, and I was still finding the narrative somewhat long-winded, and even a trifle monotonous when I recently reread Frog and Toad Are Friends for a group discussion in the Children's Literature Group's Picture Book Club. I think that while the text does manage to successfully show the deep friendship between frog and toad, the accompanying illustrations are actually much more evocative of that friendship and certainly much more fun and entertaining (I was actually getting a bit annoyed at the many repetitions and at times just wanted the stories to be over and done). I would still recommend Frog and Toad Are Friends as both a read-aloud and for independent first reading activities, but I honestly cannot see all that much in the narrative that is magical or exciting (in fact, I think for me, this book would have worked and would work better as a wordless picture book).I do have one small confession to make. The very first time I read Frog and Toad Are Friends was in 1976. I was ten years old, and we had just immigrated to Canada from Germany. The book was given to me as an in-class reading assignment, and I felt annoyed and embarrassed that I, a grade four student, who had been reading rather lengthy German children's books for more than two years (since grade two), was suddenly in a position of having to read books originally conceived for much younger children (due to my lack of English language skills). I have always wondered if that feeling of childhood embarrassment might have contributed to my rather lukewarm reaction to Frog and Toad Are Friends. However, even now, as an adult, I simply cannot get myself to really, truly enjoy the text (of course, I now no longer feel that sense of embarrassment and I truly am able to appreciate the wonderful illustrations, but the narrative continues to feel somewhat lackluster to me).

[omrythea_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful, easy to read story of friendship. A timeless classic. Great humor and just right for beginning readers.

[andrewjenkins_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Frog and Toad book is very low key. Frog and Toad are friends with very different personalities. Frog is an optimist, Toad a pessimist. These personalities lead to different takes on the situations they find themselves in (which are not very fantastic or dramatic — going swimming and wanting privacy, losing a button, waiting for a letter), but they are always kind to each other. The language is very simple, there is not likely to be more than one or two words that a young child would not know, and in fact, almost all five- or six-year olds would know every word in the book. The pictures straightforwardly illustrate the action, everything in the illustration (except background scenery) is typically mentioned in the text. The style is fairly realistic in a way. The backgrounds are quite realistic, the animals are easily recognizable, but the animals are walking on their hind legs, have clothing, and live in houses.The type is large and lines are well-separated. The lines are broken not so much when no more words will fit on the line, but when a line break can sustain a pause (e.g., before, not after, an ‘and’ in a sentence).For a young child just starting out reading, the appeal is the best-friends story, and the possibility to understand everything in the book. The content does not stretch the child’s mind particularly, but in an early reader that is not necessary, as the child is stretching his mind concentrating on the new skill of reading. The book has good values, humor, and is told in a friendly, down-to-earth manner.The book can be used to talk with children about what they like to do, about friendship, about what friends do for each other. They can also be used to talk about the themes of the different stories. What do they do when they lose something? What are they shy about? How do they deal with shyness? Have they ever received a letter? Written a letter? How do they communicate with people they love who they cannot meet?

[jdonldsn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Frog and Toad Are Friends is a classic that remains so because of its unique ability to portray friendship that children can relate too! Each story in the book relays the small but meaningful emotional difficulties and victories that friends go through together.

[rebecca401 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The classic and beloved Frog and Toad book! This book is a good book for early readers as well as to read aloud to early elementary students. The characters are likeable and we can relate to them.

[lmeza-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I like these books, we read them in parts and laughed at the swimsuit part - sorry couldn't help ourselves. These are great for teaching and talking about friendship.

[nicholspdx · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Truly a classic children's book. A Caldecott winner for good reason and the lessons in these simple stories are wonderful.

[spytel_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm in the minority I guess with this book. I didn't find it all that engaging or fun, nor was I blown away by the illustrations. But it is a chapter book for young readers and may be a good start for them. Two characters - Toad and Frog - and what they do together. Each story has a lesson.

[ktextor_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story is in a chapter book about Frog and Toad and the many adventures they go on together. This story, Spring in particular is about Frog wanting to get Toad to stop sleeping and play with him now that it is spring time!Toad is not interested and wants to go back to sleep so frog finds a way to trick his friend so that he will wake up and want to go outside to enjoy the spring weather.

[dmiller504 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This books explains what a great friend is. All children should read this book.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Arnold Lobel's four Frog and Toad books - Frog and Toad Are Friends, Frog and Toad Together, Frog and Toad All Year and Days with Frog and Toad - were some of my absolute favorites as a girl, and I read them again and again, never tiring of those two amphibian friends, and their various activities and adventures. This first entry in the series, originally published in 1970, and chosen as a Caldecott Honor Book in 1971, contains five brief stories (as do all the Frog and Toad titles), and introduces us to the somewhat irascible Toad, impatient and sometimes rather gloomy, and the more optimistic Frog, calm and very kindhearted.Here, in Spring, we see Frog, attempting to waken his resistant friend at the end of a long winter's hibernation, and resorting to an amusing subterfuge. It's Frog who is in bed in The Story, as a concerned Toad, worried for his friend's health, tries to come up with a tale to keep him entertained. A Lost Button details the friends' search for Toad's missing jacket-button, while A Swim follows them as they take a dip - with humorous results, when Toad is reluctant to allow others to see his swimming suit - in the stream. Finally, The Letter sees Frog attempting to ameliorate Toad's depression, at his lack of correspondence. Warmhearted without being sentimental, humorous without being hilarious, these simple stories have a gentle quality that is reassuring for young readers, while the adorable illustrations - greens and browns predominating - are both engaging and soothing. Of course, any devotee of these characters has to ask herself, at some point, whether she is more of a Frog or a Toad. I suspect that, although I'd like to be more of a Frog, I'm frequently a bit of a Toad. What can I say? I've been known to lose my temper, when my belongings go missing; to struggle to leave my comfortable bed, on particularly weary mornings; and to refuse (point-blank) to be seen in certain apparel. Yep, I'm definitely more of a Toad. Still, a woman can always try to be more frog-like, can't she...?

[engpunk77 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

These seem like Zen stories, too.

[mdees_7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This Frog and Toad book is about friendship. Frog and Toad share five adventures in this book including swimming, springtime, feeling sick, a lost button and the letter. This book is a chapter book for early readers. I like this book because the stories are entertaining and involve friendship. The illustrations are also very nice, you are able to see the interaction of Frog and Toad in watercolor. I enjoyed reading this book as well as having my daughter read it aloud to me. I would use this book to discuss friendship in the classroom. The adventure involving springtime has Toad hibernating through winter, so another great classroom extension would be to include this story in a science lesson.

[moxiehart · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Tiffany Warren is able to craft a compelling story. I received the book as an LT Early Reviewer and I'm very much not in the book's target demographic--I'm an atheist who doesn't read romance or chick-lit but likes erotica--and I'll admit that I was eager to find out what happened to the characters.Unfortunately, I couldn't give the book higher marks because there are some structural problems with it. The ultimate conflict of the book was minimal and was almost immediately resolved. Also, the characters felt very two-dimensional. Darrin's conversion felt very rushed and I found it hard to believe that an avowed player would immediately change his ways after a few church visits.Ultimately, this is an adequate light read but it isn't very taxing.