Frog and Toad Are Friends

I was no longer a child when I read this book but I was still enchanted by children’s literature. This book, the first in a series, is a beautiful, touching look at a simple and true friendship, told with a minimal amount of words but packing a maximum of heart.

No rodents here, but there is a frog. I don’t think there’s a person on earth who wouldn’t be touched by this book reflecting the essence of friendship – at least not anyone I would care to know. This is a book for children of all ages.

Arnold Lobel’s masterpiece series about friendship is labeled an I Can Read book on the cover, Reading Level 2, With Help. “With help” is the key phrase because if you’re the one who’s helping a child read these books, that means you’ll get to read them, too.

Lobel writes so beautifully and with so few words. I think his work is right up there with Dr. Seuss.

Upon reading this story, I found myself laughing and gaining a deeper understanding of the complexities of friendship. It became clear to me that friendships have their ups and downs, just like the two anthropomorphic creatures in these short tales, Frog and Toad.

As I delved into their amusing adventures, I realized that despite their differences, these unlikely friends were brought together by their love for one another. Frog, with his cheery and relaxed demeanor, stood taller and green. Toad, on the other hand, was shorter and stout, with a brown shade. Though more serious and uptight, he was equally… show more.

I remember several birthdays wishing for a best friend like Frog and Toad as I blew out the candles on my cake.

The amphibian friends provide a wonderful example and picture of friendship, and beautifully illustrate concepts such as loyalty, respect, acceptance, and thoughtfulness through their touching and often laugh-out-loud antics. The books are heartwarming, engaging, and can be enjoyed by children (and adults) of all ages.

I’m happy to say that I eventually found my Frog—and have tried my best to be a good Toad in return.

I also feel all warm and glowy when I read Frog and Toad are Friends! Toad is a bit of a grump, it’s true. But Frog is normal as normal can be and a wonderful example of how great friends act. He loves Toad as only a best friend can, and he would do anything for him. My favorite of the five chapters is “The Letter.” By secretly writing a letter to Toad, Frog turns Toad’s sad waiting-for-a-letter time into the best part of the day. It is, truly, what friendship is all about. 

I don't know that there has been any greater friendship in the world of children's books than the one shared between Frog and Toad. Arnold Lobel's ability to say so much with so few words is rivalled by none. Between Toad's consistent worrying and panicking and Frog's stoic reserved nature the immense bond they share comes through in every story Arnold Lobel wrote.