Frog and Toad Storybook Favorites

Frog and Toad #1-4

by Arnold Lobel

A great value! Four complete Frog and Toad stories PLUS a detachable sheet of stickers! 

Celebrate the power of friendship with all four of the beloved Frog and Toad I Can Read stories by Arnold Lobel in one volume—now with a sticker sheet!


This 9x9 hardcover treasury includes the complete art and text from four classics: Frog and Toad Are Friends, Frog and Toad Together, Frog and Toad All Year, and Days with Frog and Toad.

Share the adventures of best friends Frog and Toad as they fly a kite, resist the temptation of cookies, and search for a lost button. No matter what kind of situation they find themselves in, one thing is certain: Frog and Toad will always be together.

The classic Frog and Toad stories by Arnold Lobel have won numerous awards and honors, including a Newbery Honor (Frog and Toad Together), a Caldecott Honor (Frog and Toad Are Friends), ALA Notable Children’s Book, Fanfare Honor List, School Library Journal Best Children’s Book, and Library of Congress Children’s Book.

This compilation was originally published as Frog and Toad Storybook Collection.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Picture Books, Classics, Audiobook, Animals, Humor

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

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.

Reviews

[♥ℂĦℝΪՖƬΪℕÅ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Deserves nothing less than the FULL 5 ★'s*

I read this series so many times as a child and as an adult. I loved it so much. One of the best parts about growing is being able to share your childhood favorites with the next generation. In my case, with my little niece's :) Frog and Toad is such a touching and wonderful story of friendship. It also shows how there is a give-and-take in friendship as well. The illustrations are very simple and yet truly beautiful. Frog is a free-spirited character whereas Toad is somewhat grumpy and yet he's also a very caring character. For me Frog and Toad will always be the most memorable odd-couple duo in children’s book history. This is a series that children will love! Arnold Lobel’s book about true friendship truly deserved the honorable Caldecott Honor award.

[Rachel Aranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5-5 stars

1st time reading: I loved this volume of Frog and Toad’s adventures! It was so cute and realistic seeing how these two friends got along and handled situations. The cookie story and gardening was especially relatable to me. Mr. Lobel definitely started my love of frogs and toads as a kid with this series. Can’t wait to read this to my future kids or younger family members if I can.

2nd time reading: For my brother’s birthday, we found an audiobook where Mr. Lobel read his own work so we had to listen to it while reading along. It was super nice. Always wondered what his voice sounded like and now I know. I will say that the audiobook isn’t the sole way to go when it comes to enjoying these stores. The pictures truly help with this experience. I listened to the audiobook alone since it’s short and didn’t enjoy as much as reading and listening together. (Tis the Damn Readathon: Book #8 completed. Read a book with a movie adaptation for Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” album.)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memories flooded my mind as I listened to this wonderful audiobook. It took me back to my local library as my five-year-old self would hungrily searched the shelves of the kids section, smile when the familiar “Frog and Toad” titles came into view, and happily read each book for the umpteenth time. That was just the beginning for my love of books. This time, fifteen years later, was special because the author, Arnold Lobel, read these books and it had sound effects that made it all the more memorable. I treasure these books and will definitely have them in my library for my future children!☺️

Happy Reading!✨

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

what more is there to say i love frog and toad they are SUCH GOOD FRIENDS <3

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an old 1970s copy of Frog & Toad Together that sits on the top of the shelves in my home office along with two other children's books that I have loved since I was a little girl. It isn't my original copy from 1972...but one I bought later for my youngest son. In my opinion, every child should be friends with Frog & Toad....so I found an exact copy of the one I had as a girl and we read it many, many times when my littlest tot was still small. He's 16 and taller than me now....so Frog & Toad wait in the ready for grandchildren to visit the house.

I got an email recently from Harper Collins that said: Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Frog and Toad with new and classic stories. I had no idea it was Frog and Toad's birthday!!! Well -- Happy Birthday to my two favorite green buddies!!! (sorry Kermit....you come in 3rd, followed by Oscar the Grouch)

I logged into my library's site and checked out the Frog and Toad Audio Collection. This audio book gathers the stories from Frog and Toad are Friends, Frog and Toad All Year, Frog and Toad Together, and Days with Frog and Toad.

My favorite story is still In the Garden. Toad learns that gardening requires patience. There are times when I have been tempted to stand next to my newly planted garden in the spring and yell "Now Seeds....Start Growing!!!'' .....just in case Toad had a good idea after all. :)

The total running length of this audiobook collection is about 24 minutes. I listened while I cooked breakfast before going to work. What a nice start to my day!

I had a lovely visit with two childhood friends! Kids (and older fans of the green duo) would love this audiobook either to accompany looking at the art in the books or just the audio alone. Lobel reads in a very entertaining manner. It reminded me of the elementary school librarian reading to us while we sat on our mats back in the day.... :)

[Jeffrey Endres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friday night fiction peaked with this.

[mikaela christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frog and Toad filled storytime post LIFT banquet.
I haven’t read Frog and Toad since 1st grade. Thank you Jessica Roesler for re-introducing me to the elegant and whimsical world of The Dark Toad, and fantastical friendships.

[Blair Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the past month or so we've been reading these bedtime stories with my almost 3-year-old daughter. She loves Frog and Toad. Such a sweet, funny, melancholy pair. I liked these stories as a kid. I love them as an adult. I wish there were many more.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love these stories :)))))

[McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s frog and toad- they’re icons. I love them

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in elementary school, we had droves of children's books from which to choose for our daily readings– so many that half of them have faded from my memory years ago – but one book series in particular has always stood out in my mind as being something special, and that series is Frog and Toad. Even all these years later, I have looked back fondly on Frog and Toad, remembering how much joy they gave me as a child, and felt the need to relive those delightful moments once again.

Frog and Toad: The Complete Collection includes every book in the series: Frog and Toad Are Friends, Frog and Toad Together, Frog and Toad All Year, and Days with Frog and Toad. (Note: this collection does not include the spiritual successor to the series, The Frogs and Toads All Sang.) Each book is comprised of five mini stories, so this collection contains twenty of Frog and Toad's adventures all together (not enough, if you ask me). If you are as big of a Frog and Toad fan as I am, you will want to track down this collection rather than getting the individual books because everything you could want is perfectly compacted in this one beautifully bound hardcover that will certainly be the highlight of anyone's bookshelf.

Perusing this wonderful omnibus was such a pleasant experience, not only because I remember many of these tales from my childhood, but because these stories exude an air of warmth, comfort, and charm that relaxes me even as an adult reader. The stories are very simplistic in nature (obviously to appeal to younger readers) but many of them also contain subtle lessons between the lines that can teach virtues such as patience, kindness, perseverance, and confidence, among others. As insightful as these stories can be at times, they do not solely seek to educate, for many of them just simply chronicle the silly exploits of our favorite frog and toad duo. Unlike so many unnuanced children's stories which hamfistedly shove lessons down the throats of their readers, Frog and Toad does so only when appropriate, and in such a manner that comes off naturally and humbly. Author Arnold Lobel truly knew how to balance wisdom and whimsy all in one endearing package.

Not only were Frog and Toad's stories great on their own, but the illustrations which accompanied them were just as pleasant and memorable. The designs for both Frog and Toad are simple yet iconic, which is in perfect keeping with the modest and memorable writing of the series as a whole. The illustrations ensconce you in a sublime warmth, lulling you into a state of ease that has been, for me, unmatched by any other children's book. Never before, in my experience, have the art and the writing of a children's book come together so fluently, so effortlessly, to achieve such a robust feeling of contentment out of me, a feeling which brings me to peace no matter what circumstance I may find myself prior to reading; such is the mastery of Arnold Lobel's combined authorial and illustrative skills.

The amount of enjoyment I got out of reading Frog and Toad: The Complete Collection is unrivaled when it comes to books from my childhood; no other book from my past has endeared me so much to the worth of children's literature. Without a doubt, the Frog and Toad series is by and large my favorite set of children's books, and I cannot recommend it enough to readers young and old. If you had the pleasure of growing up with these beloved amphibious and reptilian buddies like I did, then revisiting them in this format will be an infinitely gratifying experience. For the first-time readers, you will no doubt fall in love with these stories as you meet the gregarious Frog and oft shy Toad and venture with them to find buttons, fly kites, write letters, read stories, go swimming, and become best friends for life!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister surprised me with my childhood favourite book set. This book collection of little stories about these two best friends brings back so many memories that I cannot even imagine I love love these two.☺️

[Lidewij · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like a cosy fire to my heart. I will definitely re-read some of the stories. They are just so comforting. Frog and Toad are very much living in the now and by reading their stories, I do too. And I hope that maybe one day, I can read them to my children.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, wise, silly, and charming. I loved it.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

These fill me with the same joy that they did when I was little. I love my friends Frog and Toad.

[Elena Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

256 pages of utter bliss

[Miranda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of the four Frog and Toad stories. Each section contains several shorter stories that fit under the general theme. It is (in short) a true masterpiece.

Frog and Toad are Friends

Spring

"The sun is shining! The snow is melting! Wake up!"
"I am not here," said the voice.

Frog is so excited that Spring has arrived...and Toad could care less. He wants to curl up under his blankets and continue his snooze. Well. NOT on Frog's watch!

The Story

"Tell me a story while I'm resting."

Poor Frog isn't feeling well - he's green, but also extra green because he's sick. When Frog requests a story, Toad wants to tell one right away but coming up with a story is hard work - but he's bound and determined to do what he can to help Frog.

A Lost Button

"Here is your button," said Frog.
"That is not my button," cried Toad.

Poor Toad lost a big, white, round button with two holes...and somehow they manage to find every other button in the entire forest. Will Toad ever find the right button?

A Swim

"Toad thinks he looks funny in his bathing suit and does not want you to see him."

Frog and Toad have a wonderful time swimming all afternoon but when it's time to get out of the water, they run into a teensy-tiny problem. All of the animals become incredibly curious about Toad's funny-looking bathing suit. At this rate, Toad might be stuck in the river forever!

The Letter

"...waiting for the mail is a sad time for me."

Every day, Toad gets a little sad around mail delivery. He really wants to get a letter but no one ever sends one to him. Hopefully, Frog can find a way to help his friend...but maybe the snail mail wasn't the right decision.

Frog and Toad Together

A List

"Toad wrote on a piece of a paper: A List of things to do today.
Then he wrote: Wake Up."

Toad decides that he has far too much to do, thus he needs to write a list to keep track of everything...but he soon realizes that he needs to be a litttttle flexible when it comes to the list.

The Garden

"Now seed, start growing!"

Toad is impressed by Frog's garden and decides to grow one of his own...only it is a lot more work than he expected. Luckily, he has Frog to take him under his wing and teach him the most important bits about being a gardener.

Cookies

"Frog and Toad ate one last cookie. There were many cookies left in the bowl.
'Frog,' said Toad, 'let us eat one very last cookie and then we will stop.'

Frog and Toad soon realize that willpower is not something easy to have when there's delicious cookies on the line! Maybe if they hide the cookies in a box? Hmm...but they could always open the box. Oh, what to do? (Except eat more cookies...?)

Dragons and Giants

"I wonder if we are brave," said Frog. Frog and Toad looked in a mirror.

Frog and Toad read a really great book about fighting dragons and giants, and they decide that they must find out if the two friends are as brave as the book people. Cross your fingers, cause they are about to go on a wild adventure!

The Dream

"A strange voice from far away said, "PRESENTING THE GREATEST TOAD IN ALL THE WORLD!"

Toad has a very strange, and somewhat trippy, dream about performing on a grand stage for an audience of one (his friend Frog) who keeps seeming to shrink.

Frog and Toad All Year

Down the Hill

"Come out and see how wonderful the winter is!"
"I will not," said Toad.

Frog is so excited about the wintry season... and Toad is most definitely not enthusiastic. Hopefully a sledding adventure will convince the ornery toad differently!

The Corner

"I will tell you a story while we are waiting," said Frog.

Frog and Toad are caught in a harsh downpour. While they wait to dry off, they drink some tea and nibble on cake while Frog tells a fun story about spring being just around the corner.

Ice Cream

"Toad walked along the path. A large, soft drop of chocolate ice cream slipped down his arm."

Toad decides to pick up a couple of ice cream cones for Frog and himself to help them with the summer heat, only the journey back to Frog is fraught with far more peril than Toad could have ever expected.

The Surprise

"Frog ran through the woods so that Toad would not see him.
Toad ran through the high grass so Frog would not see him."

Fall has arrived for Frog and Toad - complete with blustery winds and plenty of leaves to rake. Before raking their own lawns, Frog decides to rake Toad's leaves (and vice versa). But neither of them are prepared for the mischief of the wind.

Christmas Eve

"My friend and I will never have another Christmas together!"

Toad is anxiously awaiting Frog's arrival for Christmas Eve and soon realizes that the only possible explanation for Frog's late arrival is that he's stuck in a deep hole...or freezing to death in the woods... or being chased by a big animal? There's lots of reasons but Toad decides he MUST rescue Frog, no matter the danger.

Days with Frog and Toad

Tomorrow

"I will do it tomorrow," said Toad. "Today I will take life easy."

Toad decides to put all his chores off until tomorrow...but then get gets bummed because there's so much work to do tomorrow. Maybe if he does some of the chores today, then tomorrow would get easier...?

The Kite

"The kite went up in the air. It fell to the ground with a bump."

Frog and Toad are so excited to fly a kite. They find an open meadow, they check that the winds are whipping by, and so they try (and fail) to fly the kite. What could they be doing wrong? Will this kite ever get off the ground?

Shivers

"Frog," he asked, "are you making this up?"
"Maybe yes and maybe no," said Frog.

On a cold, dark night, Frog decides to tell Toad a little story to give Toad the shivers. And ooo, what a shivery tale it was!

The Hat

"This hat is your present to me. I like it. I will wear it the way it is."

Frog gives Toad a nice hat on his birthday...only one problem, this hat is far too large for Toad's head. There are a surprisingly large number of problems that can arise from a too-large-hat but Toad refuses to give up his birthday present...and so Frog comes up with a sneaky idea.

Alone

"Dear Toad,
I am not home. I went out. I want to be alone.
Frog"

Frog wants to be alone but Toad wants to be with his friend. How will they manage two such conflicting wants?

Overall thoughts

I haven't read Frog and Toad in ages but I'm so glad I picked this one up.

The language and structure of the stories are very simple - just a couple of sentences with easy words per page - and yet the book worked so well.

The author chose each word with care and it shows. The illustrations and color palette does a great job of elevating the book and I'm really pleased with how it all came together.

[Morgan Tamm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went in search for the Frog and Toad books specifically in audiobook format after a character in a different book I read talked about listening to Arnold Lobel read them on cassette. I didn’t know this existed! (The Arnold Lobel narrations, not cassettes. I grew up on cassette tapes.) My listening experience was precisely as warm and wonderful as I had expected it to be, if not more so. As a second grade teacher, I read Frog and Toad to my class every year. My mom read them to me when I was little. These books are perfect for young readers, but also so sweet and clever for the adults reading them aloud. Thank you, Arnold Lobel, for the friendship and lessons you created, and for the nostalgia you made me feel as I listened to you bring your beloved characters to life.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book, hardcover with a beautiful texture, colourful illustrations inside and stories written with large fonts and easy to read even for the little ones.
Stories are simply adorable, a book is always a pleasure to read both children and adults.

[Daniel]

Simply charming.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

final friday night fiction read. what a blessing it’s been to spend time reading fiction with others for the past couple of months. and what a joy it is to have gotten to storytell each different story with different people. thanks to all the different frogs for my toad <3

[cinnabun.nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Żabek i scena z kalendarzem
Gaslighting queen 💅✨

[Joy ;) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister (24) read this aloud to me (18) every couple of days (or at least whenever she was in the mood for a good Frog and Toad story). She read it in different voices for all the characters which was completely lovely. The entire experience gave me all the warm, cozy, nostalgic feelings.
10/10 Frog and Toad really are living the dream and I want to be them

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

thanks to the great audio book of this collection, my kids have memorized pretty much all the stories. One of my favorites is "The Swim," in which we learn that... sometimes we just deserve to be laughed at ;)

[Aneesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet with some surprises too.

[Abby Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frog and Toad are gay you can't tell me otherwise.

[Charly Troff (JustaReadingMama) · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love these books and the audiobook is just as cute!

[Magdalena (madeleinebooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scena z listem. 🥹

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, funny, emotional and such fun to read or have read aloud to you. The illustrations just make it too. 11/10

[Sarah Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this collection from the library so it would help me fall asleep. It was wonderful for that but also for the sweet stories. frog and Toad are friends and if you have an imagination about something more than mere friends there are theories on that. However there is nothing concrete that will give you info one way or another. So if that makes you happy to think of them as more, it's not a big stretch to do so, and if you are homophobic maybe you're looking for things to be offended by; It's kids story. What is love other than deep friendship? What you bring to it is purely in your own mind. The book can be all things to all people.
It is a fabulous story for kids. It has good lessons on friendship, not procrastinating, sharing etc. Wonderful for age two to 52.
Listening to it is also very calming and good for busy minds that don't know how to shut the heck up.