Frog and Toad

We discovered Frog and Toad a bit late, but we really love these two guys. For the most part, they have simple days, but simple days together. It’s their friendship that is the star of the stories. But it’s actually not just the friendship, it’s also their personalities that shine. For a long time, in different situations my little one would say “I’m being Frog right now” or “I’m being Toad right now” and that is the sign of a fantastic story. Something that a little mind can relate to so well he or she can tell when he or she feels or acts like a specific character.

Additionally, across the board we love the illustrations. They’re not full-page illustrations, they’re more like little dream images, but they really portray the characters well. The illustrations both represent what is going on in the story in the way my little one really picked up on and the illustrations show Frog’s and Toad’s emotions and friendship really well.

Each of the Frog and Toad books are a collection of several shorter stories.

Frog and Toad are Friends (1970) was a Caldecott Honor Book. The shorter stories within this book are “Spring,” “The Story,” “A Lost Button,” “A Swim,” and “The Letter.” Not too much to comment on this collection. No real concerns. Just a collection of great stories.

Frog and Toad Together (1972) was a Newbery Honor Book. The shorter stories within this book are “A List,” “The Garden,” “Cookies,” “Dragons and Giants,” and “The Dream.” We loved all of these stories but I personally enjoyed “A List” for the commentary on being too rigid in your ways or not being flexible enough in your expectations for the day. It’s a good lesson. My little one LOVED “Cookies.” We got full on spontaneous belly laughs. Only caution in this one is “The Dream” is a little weird. It might take some explanation to a little one and could be skipped if need be. You should read this one to yourself first before reading it to a little one and make your own judgement call.

Frog and Toad All Year (1976): The shorter stories within this book are “Down The Hill,” “The Corner,” “Ice Cream,” “The Surprise,” and “Christmas Eve.” My little one is a bit addicted to ice cream and really related to the problems in “Ice Cream.” It’s one of the stories that really got my little one thinking about Frog’s and Toad’s personalities and how my little one might act like one or the other.

Days With Frog and Toad (1979): The shorter stories within this book are “Tomorrow,” “The Kite,” “Shivers,” “The Hat,” and “Alone.” The first story, “Tomorrow,” may be one of our favorites when it comes to the messages of talking truth or giving encouraging advice kindly in friendship to others, and being responsible in your own life. “Alone” too is a fantastic story about not reading too much into a situation and just talking openly and honestly with the people in your life. The only caution with this book is “Shivers,” which is a bit scary for my little one. We skipped this story.