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Dad Diary

 I've often said that Arnold Lobel wrote several books about Daniel Barrett; Toad is just the author of this particular blog, by another name. Toad invents problems where others see a grassy meadow; Toad needs very little before he can find a way to tie himself in knots.


In "The Hat," Frog presents Toad with a gift, a hat. (Arnold Lobel and his friend James Marshall were interested in gift-giving, because it's such a fraught moment, and it's a thing that any kid can understand.)

The problem with the hat is that it's too big for Toad's head. Toad works hard to adjust--because he loves this special gift from his friend. But the mission is hopeless; Toad can't see when the hat is low and smooshing his nose.

An exchange would be impossible--because neurotic Toad feels that a new hat would not have the special power of the object that Frog has carefully selected.

Frog--aware that he has pledged himself to a lunatic--urges Toad to think big thoughts, overnight, so that his head may grow. Think of mountains! Later, Frog quietly pours water all over the extant hat, then runs it through the washing machine several times so it shrinks.

You can imagine the ending of this story.

The only other thing I'd add is that this volume--"Days with Frog and Toad"--really underlines Frog's resourcefulness. He "rescues" the hat, but he also defeats a murderous macro-frog, by changing a jumprope into a bondage tool, in "Shivers." The entire book is available for free on the Libby app.






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