Frog and Toad
Encyclopedia
Frog and Toad are the main characters in a series of easy-reader children's books
, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel
.
Each book contains five simple, often humorous, sometimes poignant, short stories chronicling the exploits of a frog
and his friend, a toad
, simply named Frog and Toad. Some of their adventures include: attempting to fly a kite, cleaning Toad's messy house as opposed to waiting until "Tomorrow" to do so, and figuring out the ethics of being "Alone".
The two protagonists do carry specific traits about their personalities and appearance. Frog is taller, with a green shade, and is more friendly and relaxed than Toad; Toad is shorter and stout, with a brown shade and also the more serious and irritable of the duo.
In 2008 three of Arnold Lobel's uncolored, unpublished, Frog and Toad books were discovered in an estate sale. They were consolidated into two books and colored by Lobel's daughter Adrianne Lobel; however these books appear to be very different from the original set.
Barnes & Noble published a hardcover edition called Adventures of Frog and Toad (2008), which includes the complete text and illustrations from Frog and Toad are Friends, Frog and Toad Together, and Days with Frog and Toad.
musical
, A Year with Frog and Toad
. The musical was commissioned by Lobel's daughter, Adrianne Lobel, played off-Broadway, and ran briefly on Broadway in 2003. It was nominated for three Tony awards. Prior to this, the books had inspired a non-musical play, "Frog and Toad (Forever)" written by Y York, and performed at Seattle Children's Theatre (1998) and First Stage Milwaukee (1999).
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel
Arnold Lobel
Arnold Stark Lobel was a popular American author of children's books. Among his most popular books are those of the Frog and Toad series, and Mouse Soup, which won the Garden State Children's Book Award from the New Jersey Library Association.Lobel won the 1981 Caldecott Medal for his book...
.
Each book contains five simple, often humorous, sometimes poignant, short stories chronicling the exploits of a frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
and his friend, a toad
Toad
A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin , short legs, and snoat-like parotoid glands...
, simply named Frog and Toad. Some of their adventures include: attempting to fly a kite, cleaning Toad's messy house as opposed to waiting until "Tomorrow" to do so, and figuring out the ethics of being "Alone".
The two protagonists do carry specific traits about their personalities and appearance. Frog is taller, with a green shade, and is more friendly and relaxed than Toad; Toad is shorter and stout, with a brown shade and also the more serious and irritable of the duo.
In 2008 three of Arnold Lobel's uncolored, unpublished, Frog and Toad books were discovered in an estate sale. They were consolidated into two books and colored by Lobel's daughter Adrianne Lobel; however these books appear to be very different from the original set.
Books
The Frog and Toad books, in order of publication date, are:- Frog and Toad are FriendsFrog and Toad are FriendsFrog and Toad Are Friends is the first Book in the Frog and Toad trilogy published in 1970 by the American author of children's stories, Arnold Lobel.-Summary:...
(1970) - Frog and Toad TogetherFrog and Toad TogetherFrog and Toad Together is the second book in the Frog and Toad series published in 1972. It won the 1973 Newbery Honor.-Summary:Best friends Frog and Toad are always together. This book has five stories about flowers, cookies, bravery, dreams, and, most of all, friendship...
(1972) - Frog and Toad All Year (1976)
- Days with Frog and Toad (1979)
Other Books
The following books only contain references to Frog and Toad and are not written, illustrated or delivered in the same manner as the original four editions.- The Frogs and Toads All Sang (2009)
- Odd Owls and Stout Pigs (2009)
- Rules (2007)
Barnes & Noble published a hardcover edition called Adventures of Frog and Toad (2008), which includes the complete text and illustrations from Frog and Toad are Friends, Frog and Toad Together, and Days with Frog and Toad.
Awards
Frog and Toad are Friends was the recipient of a Caldecott Honor award. Frog and Toad Together won a Newbery Honor award.On Broadway
The Frog and Toad books inspired a BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, A Year with Frog and Toad
A Year with Frog and Toad
A Year With Frog and Toad is a musical written by brothers Robert and Willie Reale , based on the Frog and Toad children's stories written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel...
. The musical was commissioned by Lobel's daughter, Adrianne Lobel, played off-Broadway, and ran briefly on Broadway in 2003. It was nominated for three Tony awards. Prior to this, the books had inspired a non-musical play, "Frog and Toad (Forever)" written by Y York, and performed at Seattle Children's Theatre (1998) and First Stage Milwaukee (1999).
Trivia
- "Frog and Toad" is also the name of a song written by drummer Dave KingDavid King (musician)David King is a drummer/ composer from Minneapolis. He is best known for being a founding member of the jazz groups The Bad Plus and Happy Apple although he is active in many other projects including free jazz collective Buffalo Collision with NYC "Downtown" legends Tim Berne and Hank Roberts and...
of the alt-jazz trio The Bad PlusThe Bad PlusThe Bad Plus are a jazz trio from the United States, consisting of pianist Ethan Iverson, bassist Reid Anderson, and drummer Dave King, originating from Minneapolis, MN.-History:...
.
External links
- Review of series in the Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksChance Find Leads to New Lobel Picture Books
- Corbett, Sue Chance Find Leads to New Lobel Picture Books, Publishers Weekly, Children's Bookshelf, (May 28, 2009).
- Adrianne Lobel describes how her father’s handmade books were discovered and how she colored them. YouTube video from HarperCollins.