Customer Reviews

Frog and Toad Together (I Can Read Picture Book)

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Frog and Toad have been around for years - I think of these asthe first series books my older children read. Once a child startsreading (with Frog and Toad Are Friends), the second, third and fourth books are welcome friends themselves.

This book, published in 1971, is the second of four. Toad is a bit negative and nervous, and worries about rules, while Frog is often cheerful and dedicated to alleviating Toad's fears and doubts.

"A List" is a funny story remembered long after reading it - Toad has a list of things to do, and anything not on the list can't be done. He loves to do something, then cross it off. But what happens when your list blows away, and "run after the list" wasn't even on the list. Worse, you can't remember what else was on the list. Frog is such a good friend, he just sits quietly with Toad as he struggles to figure out what to do.

In "The Garden," Toad would like to have a garden like Frog has, and with Frog's encouragement, he starts one. He tries directing the garden to grow, until Frog (hearing all that shouting) gives him some advise on how to nurture a garden.

"Cookies" is probably one of the best stories. Frog and Toad make cookies, and they are so good that they can't stop eating them. They determine its about will power, and in the end they end up with no cookies "but we have lots and lots of will power." Frog says.

"Dragons and Giants" is about Frog and Toads fears and how they deal with them. "We are not afraid!" Frog and Toad screamed at the same time. A funny story that children will like.

The last story "The Dream" is a bit deep - Toad is asleep and has a dream about starring in a play, while Frog sits in the audience and shrinks almost to non-existence.

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. riendship, 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.

Hi my name is Sergio, and I am in 3rd grade. I am 9 years old. The book that I read is Frog and Toad Together. It is by Arnold Lobel. The stories are called the List, the Garden, Cookies, and Dragons and Giants. The last story is "The Dream." The story I liked is Dragons and Giants. I like that one because Frog and Toad think they were not brave. So they end up being brave together.

I like the book because it was cool reading about Frog and Toad. I think little boys and girls will like this book. I would give this book five stars. Boys and girls even in 1st, 2nd, and 3th grade can read this book. I give it 5 stars because I like this book.

All of the stories in this book are delightful but "The List" is by far our favorite. Who hasn't had a day like that?

Frog and Toad are two great friends who prefer spending every day with each other. Your children will smile as they read along with you.

In "Frog and Toad Together," they talk walks, do things on a checklist, eat too many cookies, learn about self-discipline (not eating too many cookies), and feed cookies to birds.

Somehow, Arnold Lobel has discovered a gentle yet honest way of presenting two childhood friends. They've got a warmth that is similar to Bert and Ernie, like loving brothers.

Lobel drew some great pictures too. There is a European classic-ness to them, and to the diction of the story.

I fully recommend this, and all of Lobel's books.

Anthony Trendl

This book is a great book to encourages early readers to want to read. The are funny and sweet. My daughter and I would read the stories and have a good giggle. It was a GREAT way to bond with her. We loved Cookies, A List & The Garden. All the stories are quick & delightful.

This is my 21 month old daughters favorite book, she especially loves the story about the cookies and cant wait to bake them. She goes to sleep to the audio tape and constantly wants to play frog and toad games. Its perfect.

I love this book because it never gets old. I could just read it for hours and just never get board not even a little. I enjoy this book beginning to the end. When I am upset or mad I sit down and read a nice story of Frog and Toad Together. I am ten years old and have been reading Frog and Toad for years.

I read this book when I was 6. To this day (32 years old now) I can still remember the book like it was yesterday. They were good friends experiencing everyday dilemas. Frog and Toad were my childhood favorites.

There's something refreshing about a children's book that doesn't seem desperate for your attention: no bright colors, no flaps to flip, no embossed glitter, not even a rhyme, for pete's sake. Yes, Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad books are a different creature altogether -- awash in the Grumpy Old Man color palette, from Cigar to Pool Table -- and filled with odd little stories that cannot be read aloud without summoning the spirit of Walter Matthau.

So why have these unlikely characters have become regulars in my son's bedtime reading rotation? Maybe it's the grown-up, wise quality of the stories: though written simply, and always possessing great morality and sweetness, there is a worldly little undercurrent, like a secret joke that young readers can't quite figure out, but want to understand. This opaque quality is like catnip to a toddler: the mystery of adulthood right there on the page, so tantalizingly close, but still, so confounding!

Frog is the upbeat one; Toad the darker, pondering one. While other reviewers have attempted to link them to everything from Buddhism to Catholicism -- I'll stick with the Odd Couple reference, if I may.

These two are not friends DESPITE their differences, but BECAUSE of them (a nice lesson for kids to absorb, though it's never presented as a Lesson, of course) spending every waking minute together, exploring the woods and discussing the meaning of life (and cookies). Behind the scenes, you just KNOW they smoke pipes, drink Darjeeling, wear tweed and watch plenty of PBS (especially the British Comedies).

You'll find yourself taken aback at the level of sophistication Lobel manages to convey while never actually going over the child's head: "The List," for example, hilariously mocks our grown-up obsession with Getting Things Done, while "Cookies" discusses the pitfalls and difficulties of relying on willpower, something both you and your child will be able to nod in agreement with. "Dragons and Giants" addresses real fears in a reassuring and funny way, as the pair runs for their lives from predators while insisting they are "very brave!" "The Dream" is the most philosophical of all -- Toad dreams he is a singing, dancing superstar while his friend, Frog, shrinks down to nothingness.

Five stories in total are presented here, something I would normally shy away from (what with my 2-year old audience) but Lobel manages to make it work. Even more astounding, this book can hold said 2-year old's interest while coming from the old school of "more text than pictures." Maybe there is just so much to ponder in these comforting pages that a slow, relaxed read is just the ticket.

This is the first book and tape for me and my five year old son. On a whim, I finally decided to get one from the library this past weekend. I vaguely remembered reading Frog & Toad as a child, but couldn't remember any of the specific stories.

We are having SO much fun listening to these stories! The stories are so delightful, and my son is really enjoying it too. I think we were both pleasantly surprised to hear it and to experience listening to an audiotape for a change instead of our usual "mommy read a book" routine. Of course, the occasional music (which is oh so perfect in how it depicts what's going on in the story....particularly for moments depicting light moments, and also those depicting danger) and the author's tone of the voice are what add to already great adventures in the book.

The first day we listened to it, we had so much fun that we played it about 3 more times in a row. My son asks for us to listen/read the story every night.

I agree with one other reviewer who said the author's narration (voice, tone, etc) is perfect for the story.

My son loves all the stories, although for The Dream story, he looks a little perplexed, so I told him it's a story about a dream and most dreams don't make sense.

In "A List", he loves the part where Toad says "Blah". And he also loves when earlier in that story, you can hear the sound of a door opening as Toad leaves his house on his way to see Frog. My son just turns to me and grins from ear to ear.

For the "Cookies" story, he loves to hear the crunch of the cookie as Toad take that first bite at his own house before he goes to Frog's. He also enjoys hearing Toad tell Frog all the different ways that they can get into the box.

His very favorite line in the book though is in "Dragons and Giants", when the snake comes out the cave and says, "Hello Lunch". We both crack up over time....and sometimes rewind it a few times :-)

Like all the other reviewers mentioned, this is definitely a wonderful book about friendship. It was also interesting to read many reviewers note how there are so many real-life learning examples in it for adults. So true.

Of all the books we've read, this is by far the one that has engaged my son the most, which is saying a lot since he has about 15 Thomas books and is usually preoccupied with those.

This is I definitely have to get the other books from the collection. Definitely a classic.

Happy reading everyone :-)