The Frogs and Toads All Sang

by Arnold Lobel

[lovelybookshelf]

Our family is familiar with the early-reader format of Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad stories, which we love. So this collection of rhymes caught my eye during our most recent library visit.

The little poems contained in this book are simply charming. They're clever. Funny. Sweet. They are everything you'd expect from Arnold Lobel. C would pause to think after each one, then laugh and laugh once she "got" the humor.

In the book's introduction, Adrianne Lobel says these poems are the "first time [Arnold Lobel] wrote about frogs and toads." They are a foretaste of the stories to come; you can feel the same light, friendly spirit found in the beginning readers. Adrianne added her own talents in watercolor to her father's line illustrations, resulting in a beautiful "new" Arnold Lobel book for little ones (and parents!) to enjoy.

"Bright Green Frog" is my personal favorite. I ended up sharing it with my clarinet-playing colleagues!