The Frog and Toad Collection
by Arnold Lobel, published 1970
“”Toad, Toad,” shouted Frog. “Wake up. It is spring.”
This is a collection of three children’s books by Arnold Lobel: Frog and Toad are Friends; Frog and Toad Together; and Frog and Toad All Year. I like having all the books in one place, though certainly you could get each children’s book individually. However, as a collection, it makes the small books more substantial.
This is one of those children’s books that is important not because it is great literature, but because it is possible for children to read it on their own, love it, remember it, imitate it, and feel the magic that comes from learning to read. While working with some second grade boys learning to read, we created our own Frog and Toad story. Without their realizing it, when they wrote their stories, they actually imitated much of Lobel’s writing. That shows how much the story enters into the interior of the children.
The ability to find an enjoyable book that has vocabulary in the reach of early readers is such a gift. Many early reader books are just too dull. However, Lobel manages to make the stories fun, and yet keep the sentence structure and vocabulary completely accessible. What a gift to children. What a wonderful way to encourage them to read.
Of course, the Frog and Toad stories could be read-aloud books for the younger set. But do hold onto them, so that when your children begin to read on their own, they have this one to enjoy all by themselves.
