The Frogs and Toads All Sang: A Heartwarming Rhyming Picture Book About Frogs and Toads for Kids

Frog and Toad

by Arnold Lobel, Adrianne Lobel (Illustrator)

From Caldecott Medalist Arnold Lobel (1933-1987) comes a brand-new collection of rhyming stories about frogs and toads. Discovered by his daughter, Adrianne Lobel, The Frogs and Toads All Sang has the same warmth, compassion, and humor that is found in his best-loved work. Brimming with sweet silliness, this new book reminds us why Arnold Lobel's characters continue to be so popular years after debut.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Childrens, Animals, Humor, Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 26, 2009

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

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally I'm not a fan of works published posthumously. It seems to me that if the author wanted it published, he would have done so... otherwise it can assumed that it just wasn't 'ready' or 'fit' for publication. However, this is a discovery by a daughter of the author, and the verses are successful (charming, silly, etc. as others say), and so I'm accepting it.

The only thing you need to know, besides the fact that I recommend it, is that has not as tight a controlled vocabulary as a Leveled Reader, and is therefore better read by a family or slightly older child.

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sweetest most darling and endearing collection Arnold Lobel has to offer. You read each little poem-story, gaze at the accompanying illustration, and immediately want to hug the frogs and toads to pieces. Illustrated in a different, more "honest" style than his classic Frog and Toad series, this book is a must-own.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet collection of poems by Arnold Lobel, and the fact that Adrianne Lobel put it together as a loving tribute to honor her father made it even more special. The illustrations are cute and the poems are fun.

[Betsy Cypress · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of most rhyming books, but this was so fun.

[Geo Hendrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not into Frogs/toads or critters.
This was sure cute.
Give it a try.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

So cute!! These rhymes are so very fun!!! My favorite is Bright Green Frog, because there is just something super cool about Clarinets, ; )

[Cosette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required read aloud book. Does such a thing exist?

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this turned into a father-daughter project, recorded for all time.

[Mama Bibliosoph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always on the lookout for standout illustrated poetry collections. Short poems are great for autistic kids. It's okay to have a short attention span when you read them, and there is usually some underlying structure or rhyme scheme.

The Frogs and Toads All Sang is a sweet, funny posthumous publication. The ten poems included were discovered in the papers of Arnold Lobel, best known for his award-winning Frog and Toad series, by his daughter, who illustrated the collection with easy watercolors framed against white backgrounds. I love all of the poems, but I particularly like There Was a Frog, about a frog who drives a fast car and doesn't stop at traffic lights. Another favorite is Miss Frog Went in the Kitchen, about a frog who bakes while her little frogs watch and then eats it all herself.

A few of the poems rely on jokes that might go over kids' heads. The poem Night for instance is about two toads who acquire two clocks so that if they wake up in the middle of the night they know it's still nighttime. The illustration shows all the ways this is ridiculous: 1) The two toads sleep side by side and don't need two clocks, and 2) The night-sky is above them and they don't need a clock to tell that it isn't day yet! I had to explain all this to my kids and point at the illustrated context, but once I did, they were let in on the fun. Never hesitate to explain a joke!

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I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post on books for kids who really love frogs and toads: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/frogs-...

[Pamela Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

The introduction provides profound insight into the relationship between the author and his daughter. Both artists, both cherish the empowerment of visual art & the written word. Poetry is vivid, simple, yet, food for thought. Topics include several important character traits woven through the poetry. This book is truly a hidden handmade treasure, a precious gift.

[Liz Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet new side of Arnold Lobel. The poems are just my style--short, cute, and rhyming.. nothing pretentious here at all. But the best thing about this book is the introduction in which AL's daughter explains how this book came about and what she learned about her dad in the process. Very cool.

[Savannah Domeyer]

This book has fictional poems about frogs and toads. Some are very close to what they might actually do in real life but with fictional things. For example, one poem talks about how a frog is green and slippery but talks about how the frogs plays the clarinet.

[Gabriella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arnold Lobel's unpublished work discovered posthumously by his daughter. Fun short poems with accompanying watercolor illustrations by his daughter, Adrianne Lobel. This is a sweet father-daughter project. I really liked the illustrations.

[Edie Walls · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was lovely to hear some of Lobel's earliest writings about frogs and toads, and even more lovely to hear an intro read by his daughter and the book itself read by the original actor for Frog in A Year With Frog and Toad.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lobel's Nobels #5
Frog and Toad #5
This felt like a contractual obligation. book, none of the charm and wit of the first four books, rather random rhymes of frogs and toads.
Disappointing with what had gone before.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each spread of this book includes a short poem and an illustration to go along with it. Most of the poems rhyme and it's easy to read one by itself, or the book in entirety. Highly recommend for read-aloud and young readers learning phonics.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don't find a frog or toad in this book to relate to, I will be very surprised.
Such a lovely book, and Adrianne Lobel did such a beautiful job coloring her father's drawings. The only problem is that it's too short! Ah well.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0

[Alyssa Haverfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute little rhymes that gave Nicholas and I a giggle.

[Elisabeth Ensor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud for homeschool! Adorable children's poetry that my boys loved, my oldest even turned a few into a rap- ha ha!

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

these 32 pages of frog poems are better than anything Paulo Coelho has ever written.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful "lost" book and tribute to a beloved author of children's books.

[Kristine Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book of poetry for pre-k to 2nd grade or so, if read by parent. This is not an easy reader.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok book of silly poems.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of early poems and illustrations that Arnold Lobel drew for family and friends before he became famous for his Frog and Toad series.

[John Yelverton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a cute little children's book in and of itself with a very nice rhyming scheme, but to put it in and classify it as one of the "Frog and Toad" book series seems wrong and even disingenuous.

[Shi Baby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to poetry and song for toddlers!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 5 yo asked me to read through this collection of poems two times in a row, he must have enjoyed the cadence of them.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love frog and toad super cute book

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly and fun rhymes. The illustrations are nice, but don't quite capture the style of Arnold Lobel's. Worth your time, but lacking the coziness of the typical Lobel work.