Frog and Toad Are Friends Book and Tape (I Can Read Book 2) [Abridged, Audiobook, Unabridged] [Paperback]

Arnold Lobel (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: I Can Read Book 2 | Publication Date: March 28, 1990

Five very short stories told in a direct and ingenuous style, appealing because of their ease and the familiarity of the situations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Frog and Toad agreed: it was a perfect day for a swim. And Frog was kind enough not to look at Toad in his bathing suit, per Toad's request. But when the swimming was over, a crowd had gathered to see Toad in his funny-looking suit, and neither Frog nor Toad could make them leave.

The endearing pair hop along through five enchanting stories, looking for lost buttons, greeting the spring, and waiting for mail. Their genuine care for each other makes Frog and Toad two of the finest amphibious role models around. Young readers will chuckle with Frog as they watch Toad's silly efforts to make up a story. And they will applaud Toad as he finally wakes up after hibernating all winter. The fifth story will warm the hearts of any would-be pen pal--or anyone who has ever known what it's like to have a true-blue (or green) friend.

Arnold Lobel's comfortable brown and green illustrations invite and delight every reader, setting the tone for warm, funny stories about friendship. A Caldecott Honor Book and finalist for the National Book Award for Children's Literature, this installment of Lobel's classic Frog and Toad series is another essential addition to any youngster's shelf. If you need even more of Frog and Toad, don't miss Frog and Toad Together, Frog and Toad All Year, and Days with Frog and Toad. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"The give-and-take of a fast friendship between Frog and Toad is gently affectionate." -- -- C.

"[The stories] have freshness, humor, and a beguiling childlike simplicity." -- -- H.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: HarperFestival; Pap/Cas edition (March 28, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559942290
• ISBN-13: 978-1559942294
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,181,839 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Arnold Lobel (1933-1987) was the award-winning author and illustrator of many beloved children's books, including the classic I Can Read books about Frog and Toad, and the Caldecott Medal winning Fables.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classics for Children, June 15, 2000

By 

Quaker Annie "reader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frog and Toad Are Friends (I Can Read Book 2) (Paperback)

I've told my children that when yard sale time comes around, Frog and Toad books stay. I'm holding them for the grandchildren. The Frog and Toad books have held up well - my oldest 'child' is 32, my youngest not yet 9, and everyone has heard Frog and Toad stories over and over.

This book, published in 1970, is the first of four. The two friends are somewhat like the Odd Couple, two best friends with distinctly different personalities. Frog is usually cheerful, while Toad tends to view things from a darker side. In "Spring", Frog convinces Toad that Spring really is here, that it is worth it to get out of the bed where Toad's been lying for so long his calendar still says November.

In "The Story", Toad (who isn't quite as much a creative thinker as Frog) struggles to think up a story to cheer up his ailing friend - he struggles so hard that Frog ends up comforting him!

"A Lost Button" is an amusing story about a search for (you guessed it) a lost button - Toad's lost his button, and Frog spends his time looking for it - they find many buttons, but not the one Toad's looking for, which turns up back at Toad's house. He reward his friend by sewing him a special jacket filled with all the buttons.

In "A Swim", the self-conscious Toad tries to hide while putting on his swim suit, but ends up being seen by everyone, wearing his funny striped suit. Even Frog laughs at him - but he manages to walk home with dignity.

"The Letter" is the last story in this book. Like many little children, Toad loves getting letters but is really sad because nobody writes to him. Frog comes to the rescue, eventually, with the help of a turtle mail carrier.

The stories are short, sweet and about friendship, but in a simple manner. Drawings of Frog and Toad are on almost every page, and are detailed enough to warrant a lengthy view and some comments from young readers. The words are understandable and readable enough for very young readers, yet they manage to hold a story with an amusing message.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific read for children and adults, June 7, 2000

By 

The Queen of Creative Invective - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Frog and Toad Are Friends (I Can Read Book 2) (Paperback)

Because I am dedicated to reading aloud to my kids, I tend to review a book based upon whether or not it makes a good read-aloud book. All of the Frog and Toad books, and especially this one, are simply terrific for reading aloud.

My (four-year-old) daughter and I both love this book. The stories are funny and become funnier with each re-reading. For example, in the final story, Frog writes Toad a letter because Toad never receives mail and becomes sad every day at mailtime. Frog proceeds to give his letter to a snail for delivery. Frog cannot stand the suspense of waiting for the snail to deliver the letter, so he tells Toad about the letter and relates the contents. Together, they happily wait for the letter to arrive, which takes four days. Every time we read this story, my daughter laughs because Frog gave his letter to a snail, when everyone knows that snails are the slowest creatures alive.

The Frog and Toad books represent a perfect bridge from picture books to books where the words provide the story and the illustrations are infrequent and/or merely supplemental. The stories in these books are carried forward by the words, but the illustrations on each page would keep even the most dedicated picture-liking child happy.

If you're looking for a book to read aloud to your four to five year old, give Frog and Toad a try. You won't be sorry.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Green Friends, December 5, 1999

By 

Caroline (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frog and Toad Are Friends (I Can Read Book 2) (Paperback)

"Toad said, 'Frog you are looking quite green.' 'But I always look green,' said Frog. 'I am a frog.' 'Today you look very green even for a frog,' said Toad. 'Get into my bed and rest.' So begins one of five expertly crafted episodic chapters in this endearing Caldecott Honor beginning reader classic. Frog and Toad, true green friends, will leap into the hearts of any reader, beginning or advanced. Through rhyme and repetition of high frequency words, such as "said," Lobel crafts a text that is predictable, but not without surprises, and highly accessible to the beginning reader. Tasteful and simple, the illustrations do not overpower the text. Instead, they become more prominent where the text becomes unpredictable. For example, when Frog is sick and asks Toad to tell him a story, Toad goes through a series of unanticipated actions in an attempt to make a story pop into his head, including standing on his head, pouring water over his head, and banging his head against a wall. In this section of text, Lobel includes additional illustrations, providing visual clues to the potentially struggling decoder. Frog and Toad are Friends stands in a class of its own, as beginning reader books are rarely acknowledged for achieving excellence in writing. Frog and Toad are two unforgettable characters, and young readers may wonder whether they resemble either Frog or Toad more. They will also undoubtedly long to have Frog and Toad for friends.