The Frog and Toad Series by Arnold Lobel

933 Words2 Pages

Friendship, although conceptually understood by the youngest of children, is one of those things that seems elusive when we try to explain it fully. It is multi-faceted, complicated and one of the best aspects of a rich life. Friendship has been a topic in literature from the Bible to Thoreau, who wrote an entire essay considering friendships and its meanings. Modern literature explores many aspects of friendships, both good and bad, but the simple yet meaningful friendships portrayed in children’s stories are some of the most memorable and none more so than the lovable Frog and Toad. This exploration into the character of Frog, one of the most well-loved characters of all time, reveals what truly makes a good friend.

Frog and Toad are inseparable friends created by the author Arnold Lobel. He wrote four books about the lovable twosome, Frog and Toad are Friends, Frog and Toad Together, Frog and Toad All Year, and Days with Frog and Toad. These two amphibians have unique characteristics. Frog is very friendly and laid back than while Toad is the more serious and touchy of the duo, but they share a genuine affection for one another. Frog has many humorous and often touching adventures with Toad, in many of which Frog models how to be a faithful friend. He regularly shows patience, loyalty, wisdom and selflessness as he interacts with Toad and the other animals in their acquaintance. They learn to fly a kite together, bake (and try not to eat) cookies, and wait for seeds to grow. In the story The Letter from Frog and Toad are Friends, Frog encourages his friend by, not only, sending him a letter but also trying to keep his spirits up while he waits for the mail to come (Lobel, 1979).

Frog is a creature who likes simple ...

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... be there through thick and thin.

Robert Louis Stevenson once said, "...no man is useless while he has a friend" (as cited in BrainyQuote, 2011). Surely the same must hold true for an amphibian. Frog is an example to all species of loyalty, love and companionship. He exemplifies kindness and stability. Sometimes it takes the joyful ease of a children’s book, like the Frog and Toad series, to reveal the basic simplicity of the principles of life.

References

BrainyQuote.com. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/ robertloui155203.html

Lobel, A. (1979). Frog and Toad are friends. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers

Milne, A. (1927). Now we are six. New York, NY: Dutton Children's Books.

Wilde, D., Crane, D., Skloff, M., Kauffman, M., Solem, P., & Willis, A. (1995). I'll be there for you. On LP [CD]. Rembrandts (Group).

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