A quintessential 20th-century children's literature duo celebrates its 50th anniversary. Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad Are Friends, the Caldecott Honor Book originally published in easy reader format, has been reissued in a larger picture book edition that is both fetching and easier to share with groups. Aficionados will appreciate the complementary material that includes the first written notes for the story, original sketches and an explanation of the predominant coloration method used in picture books of the time: the pre-separated art process, which limited illustrators to a three-color palette (in this case, black, green and brown). Lobel connoisseurs are not the only ones who will enjoy this new edition--the five simple but heartfelt stories that exemplify how friends help and care deeply for each another will certainly speak to today's kids, too. --Melinda Greenblatt, freelance book reviewer