Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel

Category: Transitional
Title: Frog and Toad Are Friends
Author: Arnold Lobel
Illustrator: Arnold Lobel
Publisher: Harper Collins : New York
Publication Date: 1970
Grade Level: 1-3
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Theme: Friendship is something to be treasured.
Number of Pages: 64 pages

Summary: This Caldecott Honor Book features the friendship of Frog and Toad, who have fun together and take care of each other through many adventures.

Evaluation: This is an engaging story for transitional readers featuring the sweet friendship of Frog and Toad, who have an obvious unconditional love for each other. The language is simple for early readers, with large type that makes the book manageable for them and many illustrations that make it interesting. The beginning reader also is attracted to the very basic episodic plot, with the five chapters each consisting of their own adventure, which is appropriate for the reading level. The illustrations are done in soft, inviting watercolor, with cool greens and brown pictures nicely accenting the text throughout the book. The cover art, with Frog and Toad sitting together in the outdoors, shows their closeness and their friendship and would entice readers to read the book.