I fondly remember having a paperback copy of Frog and Toad Are Friends on my bookshelf when I was just learning to read.
It was just one of writer and illustrator Arnold Lobel's many "I Can Read" books for emergent readers exploring sentences and stories on their own. I eagerly devoured all the books in the series, delighting in the penciled illustrations and charming adventures of the two amphibian friends.
Today, there is a wide variety of early reader books available for children to enjoy. However, when Frog and Toad Are Friends was first published in 1970, early reading books were usually very didactic and uninteresting.
Arnold Lobel's books were some of the first of this genre to feature interesting characters and story lines while still using basic language. They were both accessible and exciting for children developing literacy skills. As a result, more children actually wanted to read!
Frog and Toad Are Friends was a runner-up for the 1970 Caldecott Medal. Lobel went on to write and illustrate three more Frog and Toad books and contribute his skills to over 100 other children's titles, including Mouse Soup and Owl at Home. In 1981, he won the Caldecott Medal for his book Fables, opens a new window.
The Frog and Toad book series turns 50 this year! Celebrate by checking out Frog and Toad titles, opens a new window in eAudio or eBook format. You can also explore more of Arnold Lobel's charmingly illustrated animal books, opens a new window.
Add a comment to: Frog and Toad Are Friends of Fifty Years