Frog and Toad Are Friends

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.

ThebestoffriendsFromwritingletterstogoingswimming,tellingstoriestofindinglostbuttons,FrogandToadarealwaysthereforeachother--justasbestfriendsshouldbe.

　　故事主要是在述说主角青蛙与蟾蜍这一对好朋友生活当中的种种趣事。文字优美流畅，叙述方式幽默童趣，故事感人又好玩，这两个角色表现出的童心及纯真的友谊将使读者会心一笑。他们的友情与默契贯串所有的故事，让读者在阅读时，从头到尾都沉浸在一种温馨的情绪中。然而，青蛙与蟾蜍特殊的个性、出人意料的行为及想法，又让故事的发展充满幽默风趣的惊喜。作者洛贝尔运用日常生活中最平凡的场境及生活点滴，透过想象的魔力，直接带领读者打开神奇的幸福宝藏，品味最美丽、最真挚的友谊。没有严肃的教条味，也没有沉重的批判思考，满满是至真至情，挑动读者内心深处最原始而纯真的感动。其故事在文字使用上，及文学内涵上都有极佳的阅读价值，是简易阅读书籍中的重要佳作，也是让孩子在阅读较具挑战性的短篇章节小说前的良好暖身材料。

DuringhisdistinguishedcareerArnoldLobelwroteand/orillustratedover70booksforchildren.Tohisillustratingcredit,hehadaCaldecottMedalbook--Fables(1981)--andtwoCaldecottHonorBooks-hisownFrogandToadareFriends(1971)andHildilid'sNightbyCheliDuranRyan(1972).Tohiswritingcredit,hehadaNewberyHonorBook--FrogandToadTogether(1973).Buttohisgreatestcredit,hehadafollowingofliterallymillionsofyoungchildrenwithwhomhesharedthewarmthandhumorofhisunpretentiousvisionoflife.

Thoughhewasabornstoryteller--hebeganmakingupstoriesextemporaneouslytoentertainhisfellowsecond-gradersinSchenectady,NewYork,wherehegrewupinthecareofhisgrandparents.Mr.Lobelcalledhimselfa"luckyamateur"intermsofhiswriting.Viewinghimselfasaprofessionallytrainedillustrator(hereceivedaBachelorofFineArtsdegreefromPrattInstitute),hesaid,"Iknowhowtodrawpictures.Withwriting,Idon'treallyknowwhatI'mdoing.It'sveryintuitive."

InadditiontotheFrogandToadbooks,OwlatHome,MouseTales,TheBookofPigericks,andmanyotherpopularbookshecreated,Mr.Lobelalsoillustratedotherwriters'textsthatcapturedhisfancy.Heviewedthisas"somethingdifferentandchallenging."Oftenhisillustrationsforthosebooksshowedadifferentaspectofhispersonalityandhisartisticexpertise,rangingfromhismeticulousdinosaursinDinosaurTimebyPeggyParishtohischillingpen-and-inkdrawingsinNightmares:PoemstoTroubleYourSleepbyJackPrelutsky,aboutwhichBooklistwrote,"YoungreaderswillbeamazedthatthegentleLobelofFrogandToadfamecanbesocomfortablydiabolic."

In1977Mr.Lobelandhiswife,Anita,adistinguishedchildren'sbookauthorandartistinherownright,collaboratedontheirfirstbook,HowtheRoosterSavedtheDay,chosenbySchoolLibraryJournalasoneoftheBestBooksoftheYear,1977.Theythencollaboratedonthreemorebooks,ATreefulofPigs,a1979ALANotableBook;OnMarketStreet,a1982CaldecottHonorBook;andTheRoseinMyGarden,a1984BostonGlobe/HornBookHonorBook.

ArnoldLobeldiedin1987.

SPRING

THE STORY

A LOST BUTTON

A SWIM

THE LETTER