Frog & Toad Read Alikes
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel is a classic in the easy reader format. And while I remember reading these books when I was (much) younger, they were published over a decade before I was even born! I think it’s common for parents and caregivers to share the books they know and love with their kids – and there’s nothing wrong with that! But, there are so many great books that have been published since then that may not get discovered easily on bookshelves at the library or bookstore.
Today, I wanted to share some additional easy readers/beginner readers (synonymous descriptors) as well as a few early chapter books. These titles often combine two main characters who are going on adventures together. And by adventures, I typically mean the regular day-to-day activities for these anthropomorphized animals, as well as a few ghosts, and a set of brothers. These books are about friendship at their core and I think kids will resonate with the stories.
This summer, grab Frog and Toad, Little Bear, and Henry and Mudge and don’t forget to try some of these titles too!
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Frog & Toad Read Alikes
Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories by Jarvis
Bear and Bird are best friends, and they spend a lot of time together. They don’t always understand each other, but both agree that all they want is for their friend to be happy. So when Bear forgets the most important thing to pack for a picnic (but pretends that he didn’t), Bird doesn’t let on that she knew all along. And when Bird is upset to discover her friend has more of a certain talent than she does, Bear finds a touching way to make her feel better. Whether it’s the tale of a missing Bird and a “talking” flower that has Bear bewildered or that of a blanket whose irresistible coziness inspires a comic misunderstanding, Jarvis’s well-honed timing combines with gentle humor and genuine affection that will have readers eager for more.
Charlie & Mouse by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Emily Hughes
Four hilarious children’s stories, two inventive brothers, one irresistible and award-winning beginner chapter book—now in paperback! Join Charlie and Mouse as they talk to lumps, take the neighborhood to a party, sell some rocks, and invent the bedtime banana. With imagination and humor, Laurel Snyder and Emily Hughes paint a lively picture of brotherhood that children will relish in a beginning chapter book format; making this a perfect book for young readers graduating from picture books.
Fergus and Zeke by Kate Messner, illustrated by Heather Ross
Fergus loves being the class pet. When the teacher plans a field trip to a museum, Fergus doesn’t want to miss the fun, so he stows away in a backpack and sets off for an adventure. The museum is a little overwhelming — huge and full of exciting things to see. Luckily, Fergus meets a new friend, Zeke, who knows the ropes, and together they explore everything from moon rocks to butterflies to a giant dinosaur skeleton. But when it’s time for the bus to leave, will Fergus make it back to school to take his place as class pet once more?
Fitz and Cleo by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Heather Fox
Fitz and Cleo are siblings by chance, but best friends by choice. Oh, and they also happen to be ghosts!
Join Cleo, a happy-go-lucky kind of gal, and Fitz, her science-minded brother, as they laugh their way through eleven gut-busting stories, including exploring the beach with a new friend, enjoying some ice cream, playing baseball, and gazing at the stars.
Fox + Chick: The Party by Sergio Ruzzier
Join the dynamic duo as they learn to appreciate their differences: Fox and Chick don’t always agree, but Fox and Chick are always friends.
With sly humor and companionable warmth, Sergio Ruzzier deftly captures the adventures of these seemingly opposite friends.
Fox & Rabbit by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Gergely Dudás
Easygoing Fox and anxious Rabbit seem like total opposites. But, somehow, they make the perfect pair! Whether searching for hidden treasure or planting a garden in their own backyard, Fox and Rabbit find everyday magic at every turn.
On this first adventure, the pair will discover some new favorite things like sunsets, dandelions, and cotton candy. And they’ll face new fears like heights, swimming, and (poisonous!) frogs. Thankfully, there’s nothing Fox and Rabbit can’t do together!
Penny and Her Doll by Kevin Henkes
When Penny receives a surprise box in the mail from Gram, she is thrilled. The surprise is a doll, and she is absolutely perfect, from her head to her toes. Penny loves her immediately. She introduces her new doll to Mama and to the babies and to Papa. But then Papa asks what the doll’s name is, and Penny realizes that she doesn’t know. What should Penny call her?
Snail & Worm: Three Stories About Two Best Friends by Tina Kügler
Snail and Worm are an unlikely pair sure to delight by combining deceptively simple art with clever wordplay.
Told in three comical, episodic shorts and ranging in topic from adventuring to having pets, Snail and Worm will have readers laughing at the friends’ silly antics, making it a perfect book for readers transitioning between picture books and chapter books.
Sydney & Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World by Jacqueline Davies, illustrated by Deborah Hocking
Sydney is a skunk and Taylor is a hedgehog, but no matter how odd the pairing may seem, their friendship comes naturally. They live happily in their cozy burrow . . . until the day Taylor gets his Big Idea to go see the Whole Wide World. From mountains taller than a hundred hedgehogs, valleys wider than a thousand skunks, to the dangers that lie in the human world, Sydney and Taylor wanted to see it all. With a map and a dream, they bravely set off, soon discovering that the world is much bigger than they realized.
