Books: Frog and Toad series

Topping the bedtime story charts at our house these days is the Frog and Toad series, by Arnold Lobel. Part of an early readers series, these books, in five short stories, document two unlikely companions, a cheerful green frog and a dour brown toad, who are bound by friendship and understanding. With kindness and sensitivity they make each others lives better and inspire children to think about the needs of their own friends.
Frog and Toad are Friends  –  a recipient of a Caldecott Honor award and a gift from Eleanor’s “uncle” N.V. (who recently became a new father himself!) – was the first of these books that Eleanor owned, and was read so often that several months ago Tim went out and purchased a couple of others in the series.

They quickly made their way into the rotation and have not left.

One of the stories that Eleanor frequently requests follows tells what happens to Frog and Todd when Toad’s “To Do” list is accidentally carried away on the wind during a long walk, leaving Toad unable to do anything (“I cannot chase the list,” Toad wails, “because that is not on my list of things to do”). As someone who keeps lists of my lists, I know how Toad feels; I often add things to my lists just to be able to cross them off.

And since Eleanor’s dad now keeps nested lists, I think she’ll have a hard time escaping the lure of listing.

a crossed off new year’s resolution list last week = happy me.