(2) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Here is a welcome new edition of this iconic, Caldecott Honor–winning easy reader, reissued with a section at the end of seven pages of background material. Fans are treated to glimpses into Lobel's working methods and mindset ("It is a kind of pleasant omnipotence that I feel at the drawing board. There is a little world at the end of my pencil"); see early sketches of beloved characters and a notebook page of scribbled text for chapter one of the book; get an explanation of the three-color art separation process; and see photos of Lobel--as a young man, at work at his desk, with one of his children, acting in a home movie. One quote will surely resonate with all of us, and does much to explain the appeal of Frog and Toad. When asked whether he saw himself more as Frog or more as Toad, Lobel answered, "Both, both. I think everybody is both."

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2020

(4) K-3 This compendium gathers the four Frog and Toad early readers into one hefty volume. Having all the beloved stories in one place is convenient, but this 254-page collection lacks the intimacy of the smaller-size, easier-to-hold originals. No need to mess with perfection.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Color by Adrianne Lobel. Lobel fans and nonsense lovers will welcome this amusing collection. Created from two unpublished books handmade by Arnold Lobel before he produced the famous Frog and Toad stories, this volume offers linked verses and limericks about owls and pigs. Each piece features a humorous, distinctive line drawing by Lobel senior, enhanced with color unobtrusively added by his daughter.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Color by Adrianne Lobel. Upon his death in 1987, the creator of the beloved Frog and Toad early-reader series left behind several handmade books, which are collected here. The clever, pithy, storylike rhymes, which represent the first time that Lobel "wrote about frogs and toads," feature art (hand-colored by Lobel's daughter) that's more sketchlike than what his fans are used to, but no less charming.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 When the fairies play their magic music, benevolent, not-overly-bright giant John can't stop dancing. His mother sends him off into the world to earn money, and he's happy working for a king and queen--until his fairy friends show up. Lobel packs the two-color illustrations with wonderful details. The good humor throughout ensures a satisfyingly happy ending.

Reviewer: Terri Schmitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: October, 1964