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onesownroom's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
4.75
- - - - -
FIRST READ: September 2021
SECOND READ: September 2024
NOTES: So funny & calming. I can't believe I never read this as a kid! đź’š
⪩⪨ reader:
⟡ female, united states. enfp.
⟡ my latest reads
⟡ not a fast reader, sadly. ♡
⟡ here are some of my favorite books
FIRST READ: September 2021
SECOND READ: September 2024
NOTES: So funny & calming. I can't believe I never read this as a kid! đź’š
⪩⪨ reader:
⟡ female, united states. enfp.
⟡ my latest reads
⟡ not a fast reader, sadly. ♡
⟡ here are some of my favorite books
lobsterpal's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
wardo2700's review against another edition
3.0
Quite a different choice by the Newbery Committee as this is just a basic early reader consisting of five very short stories. So I'm not sure what literary achievement they were rewarding as this is a story with limited creativity. In my opinion the Toad character is somewhat irritating as he is not very smart with the choices he makes. I'll have to have my grandchildren read it and see if they enjoy it more than I did.
amelody's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
devontrevarrowflaherty's review against another edition
5.0
The Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel, which we read in Harper’s Frog and Toad Storybook Treasury, which includes all four Frog and Toad books:
Frog and Toad Are Friends
Frog and Toad Together
Frog and Toad All Year
Days with Frog and Toad
Arnold Lobel, 1933-1987, was a children’s book illustrator and writer. He won several awards and praise–including the Caldecott–for books like Frog and Toad Are Friends, Mouse Soup, and Fables. He grew up in Schenectady, New York, went to art school, and married another childrens’ illustrator and writer and had two kids: one boy and one girl. Not much seems to be made of his life, as details are scarce. What we know is that he was talented and prolific, and his writing changed the Early Reader genre.
My son and I actually read this book as part of our virtual school curriculum for second grade. The first book came in the school supplies box and was scheduled for the end of the first semester. I kinda hoped a book about creatures would intrigue my son, but so far he had only liked exactly one series of books in the whole world (and a whopping lifetime total of about three other books (Cleary’s Ramona series, The Day the Crayons Quit, Press Here, and Peek-a-Who)). Both my eight-year-old son and I were pleasantly surprised and soon, we had bought the whole treasury. So while he was discovering Frog and Toad, he also discovered Jack Stalwart, which expanded his enjoyment of books by more than 200 per cent. However, while I was groaning through Jack Stalwart (review forthcoming), I was thoroughly enjoying Frog and Toad.
And I think some of the reasons I loved it spring from the time period when it was written, which is also why I enjoyed Ramona. But Frog and Toad seems even more classic, even more gentle, and even more universal. While Frog and Toad are having fun, going on adventures, and encountering trials, they are loyal, kind, respectful, and calm. Boy do I need more of that.
They also embody a type of platonic same-sex friendship that is on the (sad) decline and is oftentimes misunderstood and disrespected in our current culture. Humans were meant for this type of Ruth and Naomi, Anne and Diana relationship which involves a deep level of familiarity (on emotional, spiritual, experiential, and even physical levels). Anymore, it is often relegated just to family (if that). So that’s one of the reasons I love Frog and Toad. I want a friend like that. I have had friends like that. I want my son to grow up to have great, bonded relationships.
I love the pace of the books, the close observation of nature, and the minutiae of a simple life. I love the quiet predictability and the serene way the characters encounter the unexpected. I love the illustrations. I appreciate the clean, un-confused writing and the clean, un-confused watercolors. Clearly, I love Frog and Toad, and so should you.
_______________
Other books by Lobel, which I will be reviewing soon:
The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog
The Great Blueness and Other Predicaments
Small Pig
Owl at Home
Grasshopper on the Road
A Treeful of Pigs
Fables
Uncle Elephant
Ming Lo Moves the Mountain
The Book of Pigericks: Pig Limericks
Mouse Soup
Mouse Tales
These two books were compiled and colored (by Lobel’s daughter) posthumously:
The Frogs and Toads All Sang
Odd Owls and Stout Pigs: A Book of Nonsense
These are some more books which are harder to find, and I may not be able to review them for you:
The Rose in My Garden
The Ice-Cream Cone Coot and Other Rare Birds
Lucille
A Zoo for Mister Muster
A Holiday for Mister Muster
Giant John
Whiskers and Rhymes
On the Day Peter Stuyvesant Sailed Into Town
How the Rooster Saved the Day
The Man Who Took the Indoors Out
Prince Bertram the Bad
Arnold Lobel’s Mother Goose
The Random House Book of Mother Goose (illustrator)
The Bears of the Air
Martha the Movie Mouse
A few award-winning books by wife and Polish author Anita Lobel:
Sven’s Lighthouse
One Lighthouse, One Moon
On Market Street
The Rose in My Garden (with her husband)
How the Rooster Saved the Day
And finally, the Frog and Toad musical, commissioned by daughter Adrianne, and premiering in 2002, hitting Broadway in 2003, and nominated for multiple Tonys:
A Year with Frog and Toad
***BOOK REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST/DEVON TREVARROW FLAHERTY BLOG***
Frog and Toad Are Friends
Frog and Toad Together
Frog and Toad All Year
Days with Frog and Toad
Arnold Lobel, 1933-1987, was a children’s book illustrator and writer. He won several awards and praise–including the Caldecott–for books like Frog and Toad Are Friends, Mouse Soup, and Fables. He grew up in Schenectady, New York, went to art school, and married another childrens’ illustrator and writer and had two kids: one boy and one girl. Not much seems to be made of his life, as details are scarce. What we know is that he was talented and prolific, and his writing changed the Early Reader genre.
My son and I actually read this book as part of our virtual school curriculum for second grade. The first book came in the school supplies box and was scheduled for the end of the first semester. I kinda hoped a book about creatures would intrigue my son, but so far he had only liked exactly one series of books in the whole world (and a whopping lifetime total of about three other books (Cleary’s Ramona series, The Day the Crayons Quit, Press Here, and Peek-a-Who)). Both my eight-year-old son and I were pleasantly surprised and soon, we had bought the whole treasury. So while he was discovering Frog and Toad, he also discovered Jack Stalwart, which expanded his enjoyment of books by more than 200 per cent. However, while I was groaning through Jack Stalwart (review forthcoming), I was thoroughly enjoying Frog and Toad.
And I think some of the reasons I loved it spring from the time period when it was written, which is also why I enjoyed Ramona. But Frog and Toad seems even more classic, even more gentle, and even more universal. While Frog and Toad are having fun, going on adventures, and encountering trials, they are loyal, kind, respectful, and calm. Boy do I need more of that.
They also embody a type of platonic same-sex friendship that is on the (sad) decline and is oftentimes misunderstood and disrespected in our current culture. Humans were meant for this type of Ruth and Naomi, Anne and Diana relationship which involves a deep level of familiarity (on emotional, spiritual, experiential, and even physical levels). Anymore, it is often relegated just to family (if that). So that’s one of the reasons I love Frog and Toad. I want a friend like that. I have had friends like that. I want my son to grow up to have great, bonded relationships.
I love the pace of the books, the close observation of nature, and the minutiae of a simple life. I love the quiet predictability and the serene way the characters encounter the unexpected. I love the illustrations. I appreciate the clean, un-confused writing and the clean, un-confused watercolors. Clearly, I love Frog and Toad, and so should you.
_______________
Other books by Lobel, which I will be reviewing soon:
The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog
The Great Blueness and Other Predicaments
Small Pig
Owl at Home
Grasshopper on the Road
A Treeful of Pigs
Fables
Uncle Elephant
Ming Lo Moves the Mountain
The Book of Pigericks: Pig Limericks
Mouse Soup
Mouse Tales
These two books were compiled and colored (by Lobel’s daughter) posthumously:
The Frogs and Toads All Sang
Odd Owls and Stout Pigs: A Book of Nonsense
These are some more books which are harder to find, and I may not be able to review them for you:
The Rose in My Garden
The Ice-Cream Cone Coot and Other Rare Birds
Lucille
A Zoo for Mister Muster
A Holiday for Mister Muster
Giant John
Whiskers and Rhymes
On the Day Peter Stuyvesant Sailed Into Town
How the Rooster Saved the Day
The Man Who Took the Indoors Out
Prince Bertram the Bad
Arnold Lobel’s Mother Goose
The Random House Book of Mother Goose (illustrator)
The Bears of the Air
Martha the Movie Mouse
A few award-winning books by wife and Polish author Anita Lobel:
Sven’s Lighthouse
One Lighthouse, One Moon
On Market Street
The Rose in My Garden (with her husband)
How the Rooster Saved the Day
And finally, the Frog and Toad musical, commissioned by daughter Adrianne, and premiering in 2002, hitting Broadway in 2003, and nominated for multiple Tonys:
A Year with Frog and Toad
***BOOK REVIEW WRITTEN FOR THE STARVING ARTIST/DEVON TREVARROW FLAHERTY BLOG***
lucca111angel's review against another edition
5.0
“Frog,” he said, “I am so glad that you came over.”
“I always do,” said Frog.
“I always do,” said Frog.