Frog and Toad

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Frog and Toad
Cover of the first book
Front cover of the first book with seal affixed: Caldecott Honor Book (1971)
Author Arnold Lobel
Illustrator Lobel
Country United States
Genre Children's picture book, short story collection
Publisher Harper & Row
Published 1970–1979
No. of books 4

Frog and Toad are the main characters in a series of easy-reader children's books, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel.

Each book contains five simple, often humorous, sometimes poignant, short stories chronicling the exploits of a frog and his friend, a toad. Some of their adventures include: attempting to fly a kite, cleaning Toad's messy house as opposed to waiting until "Tomorrow" to do so, and figuring out the ethics of being "Alone".

Frog is taller, with a green shade, and is more friendly and relaxed than Toad; Toad is shorter and stout, with a brown shade and also the more serious and uptight of the duo. Each book seems to end with a story that shows how much Toad is dependent upon Frog's friendship.

In 2008, three of Arnold Lobel's uncolored, unpublished Frog and Toad books were discovered in an estate sale. They were consolidated into two books and colored by Lobel's daughter Adrianne Lobel; these books appear to be very different from the original set.

Books

Barnes & Noble published a hardcover omnibus edition of three books in 2008: Adventures of Frog and Toad, comprising the complete text and illustrations of Frog and Toad are Friends, Frog and Toad Together, and Days with Frog and Toad.

Two books that contain references to Frog and Toad were completed by Lobel's daughter Adrianne from uncolored material for three books. They are written, illustrated, and delivered in a manner different from the four Frog and Toad books.

  • The Frogs and Toads All Sang (2009), color by Adrianne Lobel, LCCN 2008-51768
  • Odd Owls and Stout Pigs: A Book of Nonsense (2009), color by Adrianne Lobel, LCCN 2009-1406

Awards

Frog and Toad are Friends was a Caldecott Honor Book, or runner-up for the annual American Library Association (ALA) Caldecott Medal, which recognizes children's picture book illustration.[5] In 2012 it was ranked number 15 among the "Top 100 Picture Books" in a survey published by School Library Journal.[6]

Frog and Toad Together was a Newbery Honor Book, which recognizes children's literature.[7]

Frog and Toad All Year won a Christopher Award in 1977 – one of five, at a time when books for young people was the only award category.[8] The awards recognize "media that 'affirm the highest values of the human spirit'  ... Award winners encourage audiences to see the better side of human nature and motivate artists and the general public to use their best instincts on behalf of others."[9]

Adaptations

Screen

In the 1980s, Churchill Films produced 18-minute and 30-minute adaptations of the first two books using clay animation (claymation) stop-motion. Producer George McQuilkin, executive producer Robert B. Churchill. Both films were directed by John Clark Matthews, credited also as theme music composer and one principal animator. Frog and Toad were voiced by Will Ryan and Hal Smith.[10][11] They were narrated by Lobel.[citation needed] Frog and Toad Are Friends was released on May 23, 1985; Frog and Toad Together on September 3, 1987.[citation needed] They were distributed to the home market only (direct-to-video).[citation needed]

In 2012, The Jim Henson Company has stated they plan an adaptation of the children's book as an animated film.[citation needed]

Stage

The Frog and Toad books inspired a Broadway musical, A Year with Frog and Toad. The musical was commissioned by Lobel's daughter, Adrianne Lobel, played off-Broadway, and ran briefly on Broadway in 2003. It was nominated for three Tony awards. Prior to this, the books had inspired a non-musical play, "Frog and Toad (Forever)" written by Y York, and performed at Seattle Children's Theatre (1998) and First Stage Milwaukee (1999).

References

  1. ↑ Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel" (starred review). Kirkus Reviews. August 1, 1970. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  2. ↑ "Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel". Kirkus Reviews. April 1, 1972. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  3. ↑ "Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel by Arnold Lobel". Kirkus Reviews. April 1, 1976. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  4. ↑ "Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel by Arnold Lobel". Kirkus Reviews. October 1, 1979. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  5. ↑ "Caldecott Medal & Honor Books, 1938–Present". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). American Library Association (ALA.org). Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ "Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922–Present". ALSC. ALA. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  8. ↑ "Christopher Awards 1970–1979". Book Help Web (bookhelpweb.com). Archived 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  9. ↑ "The Christopher Awards". The Christophers (christophers.org). Retrieved 2015-09-19.
      Official lists of winners are published online only from 2001.
  10. ↑ "Frog and Toad Are Friends (1985)". Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com). Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  11. ↑ "Frog and Toad Together (1987)". IMDb. Retrieved 2015-09-19.

External links

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