Roby’s a bit more interested in chewing on books than reading them, or even having them read to her. But still, it’s nice to read quietly and watch her reach for the cardboard pages with waggly little fingers. 

For the most part it’s a curious opportunity to look at books I only half remember from dreams in a new light. I remember thinking the illustrations of Eric Carle looked strangely delicious and unfathomable. The contained mess of his color just felt so impossible and fantastic. I still feel that way on all counts. 

One book, or series of books, I never read, or had read to me as the case may be, was Frog And Toad. I got one of the skinny little books for Roby, I believe at a used book store in Maine, and it is my favorite by far. 

While it lacks some of the artistic charm of Carle, and the surreal flare of Shel Silverstein, the language is clear as crystal and clean and wholesome as raw milk. I aspire to write with the clarity of Arnold Lobel, and I aim to live a life as clean and as good as Frog and Toad.

Frog and Toad are friends.
They take walks together,
they eat cookies together, 
they play games together –
and sometimes

the things they do together
are scary!

There are five wodnerful stories
about Frog and Toad in this book.