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Frog and Toad are Doing Their Best [A Parody]: Bedtime Stories for Trying Times
At home, work, and out in our ever-changing world, we're all just doing our best. In this modern parody, Frog and Toad are here to commiserate and lend some laughter.
Full of wry humor and deep compassion for our modern vulnerabilities, the stories in Frog and Toad Are Doing Their Best perfectly capture the heartwarming authenticity of Lobel’s famous amphibian friends while revealing razor-sharp truths about the world we live in today. Through Frog and Toad, we see the anxieties that are woven throughout our everyday existence, from our well-meaning but often-failed attempts at practicing self-care to our struggle to balance the gifts and burdens of technology. Toad ponders a variety of questionable schemes to pay off his credit cards, while Frog spends too much time scrolling through the newsfeed on his phone. But despite their daily frustrations and existential concerns, they know that having a friend to share life’s burdens makes even the darkest days brighter.
Full of wry humor and deep compassion for our modern vulnerabilities, the stories in Frog and Toad Are Doing Their Best perfectly capture the heartwarming authenticity of Lobel’s famous amphibian friends while revealing razor-sharp truths about the world we live in today. Through Frog and Toad, we see the anxieties that are woven throughout our everyday existence, from our well-meaning but often-failed attempts at practicing self-care to our struggle to balance the gifts and burdens of technology. Toad ponders a variety of questionable schemes to pay off his credit cards, while Frog spends too much time scrolling through the newsfeed on his phone. But despite their daily frustrations and existential concerns, they know that having a friend to share life’s burdens makes even the darkest days brighter.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published October 5, 2021
49 people are currently reading
791 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
April 4, 2022
This book was cozy, inviting, and just enough humor to make any depressing day better. It was a remembrance of a youthful time told in an adult manner. Frog and Toad have always been friends of mine and in this stressful time they made me feel fuzzy and warm. Having never enough time this book let’s you breath for a moment and let’s you feel like you are whole. It makes you realize you are not the only nut job with worries, woes, and weakness. You long for a friend and who can comfort you then Frog and Toad. They are grown and have life issues like all. Money, depression, lack of cooking skills, even the need for harmony. They might not be the best at everything but in the end they find friendship in each other and that’s what make life worth living. I’m tickled pink this book came into my life. Frog and Toad have heart, humor, and are companion for all.
August 31, 2023
I keep this book front and center in my guest room to offer soothing, cozy tales for anyone who comes to stay. It’s sweet, funny, and beautiful to look at ❤️
April 25, 2022
Zero stars, inability to find comfortable ground between non-parody but poor imitation and just describing a modern young professional quarantine scene(sans any real plot arc) with a comedy that is just “look how funny, we put a Fitbit on frog!!! What if it was called ‘ToadTok?!?’”. Sports illustrated children’s book “goodnight football”, a goodnight moon parody, is a better read.
February 16, 2023
Usually when I see the word, parody, I'd usually think it's something comedic, and making fun of the original material itself. However, Frog and Toad are Doing Their Best seems more of a tribute rather than a parody. Whereas the original Frog and Toad series were set for a children's demographics, this one is meant for adults. The duo are now set on living in the current decade with mentions of technology, bills, exploration, and awareness in their mind. In which, now they deal with situations that many of us will know and relate to.
If you read the original books, then this parody still captures the same soul as them. The writing is simple, the friends: Frog, the calm & rational; Toad, the reluctant & emotional; have each other to balance themselves out, and a tone that is ever peaceful. So despite the issues the pair find themselves in, they eventually figure out simple solutions that can put their minds at ease. So while adults are more likely to relate to these stories, the writing is also simple enough that children & teenagers can also grasp what is going on.
If you read the original books, then this parody still captures the same soul as them. The writing is simple, the friends: Frog, the calm & rational; Toad, the reluctant & emotional; have each other to balance themselves out, and a tone that is ever peaceful. So despite the issues the pair find themselves in, they eventually figure out simple solutions that can put their minds at ease. So while adults are more likely to relate to these stories, the writing is also simple enough that children & teenagers can also grasp what is going on.
March 17, 2022
I know humour is subjective so take that into account, but I found this not only unfunny but very depressing.
January 25, 2022
10/10 phenomenal must read i laughed i felt better about the world and my spot in it
November 2, 2025
Gifted to me when I needed it most. Such a cute, heartfelt book, perfect for the last few months. Thank you, Sarah! 💕
August 4, 2025
Frog and Toad in 2020.
We order a lot online. The garage belongs to the boxes now.
I don't need it but I want it very much.
Luxury is a state of mind.
How about we watch one episode now, and then do one thing from your list?
Frog and Toad ate all of the cookies.
Once they were done, they lay down for an afternoon nap.
It was the best day.
Laughing makes me beautiful.
Time means nothing. Tine is just the thing that happens between snacks.
We order a lot online. The garage belongs to the boxes now.
I don't need it but I want it very much.
Luxury is a state of mind.
How about we watch one episode now, and then do one thing from your list?
Frog and Toad ate all of the cookies.
Once they were done, they lay down for an afternoon nap.
It was the best day.
Laughing makes me beautiful.
Time means nothing. Tine is just the thing that happens between snacks.
November 26, 2025
it's me. I'm Toad
April 19, 2022
A good companion piece for the humor Dick and Jane and Vampires, where Frog and Toad are dealing with modern adult issues like bad wifi signals, holiday stressouts, and the perils of salsa dancing, all with the warm charm of the original books. Hit my feels in the right places.
January 8, 2022
I LOVE this book!!!!
February 23, 2022
This book is so cute. I love my mom for getting it for me. It made me smile. It was a nice break from all the normal human novels I read. Hug your friends.
March 11, 2022
I grinned the entire way through this delightful bedtime story.
March 27, 2024
This was so cute! I like how they kept the same vibes as the original stories and added a lot of relevant things for adults. The part where they went to the ATM to check and make sure their 16 dollars was in there hit heavy. I love them!
June 12, 2023
Read some of this as an actual bedtime story last night, hilarious and relatable anecdotes from our favorite quirky amphibians
October 24, 2023
very cute and nostalgic since i grew up reading frog and toad! ty for the best birthday gift, liana <3
December 26, 2024
A perfect book to make you feel a little bit better.
August 27, 2025
I so very much enjoyed!
June 8, 2022
This is a fun little parody book that has Frog and Toad adulting.... poorly.
Some of the stories are really funny, some are okay, but generally it's an enjoyable little pick me up. It doesn't take long to read since it mimics Frog and Toad's story length and style.
It's best when Frog and Toad reveal their insecurities and support each other. It's humorous, but there's a warmth to it, like the real Frog and Toad. It didn't blow me away, but it was a fun divergence from my usual reads.
Some of the stories are really funny, some are okay, but generally it's an enjoyable little pick me up. It doesn't take long to read since it mimics Frog and Toad's story length and style.
It's best when Frog and Toad reveal their insecurities and support each other. It's humorous, but there's a warmth to it, like the real Frog and Toad. It didn't blow me away, but it was a fun divergence from my usual reads.
September 28, 2021
This book brought a smile to my face & made me laugh out loud. If you grew up reading Frog and Toad, you will recognize story connections, especially to “Grow seeds!” and “Cookies.” Well done, humorous, and insightful commentary on our world. Now I’ll go reread Frog and Toad. (Jake)
July 18, 2025
thank you Caroline for the quick read, this truly uplifted my spirits
December 2, 2021
I am toad. Toad is me.
April 16, 2023
Tag yourself, I'm frog
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April 28, 2025Calvin and Hobbes. Winnie the Pooh and Piglet. Frog and Toad. These friendships for the ages are just as important as an adult as they were when I was a child. I remember reading Frog and Toad when I was young, then sharing it with my own kids. There’s something calm and comforting about those two amphibians and their relationship. Grown-up Frog and Toad carry that same sense of sweetness and relatability into this collection of short chapters on their attempts to navigate adulthood. There’s also a fair bit of humor, something I think we could all use a little more of. Because, seriously, folks, life can be stressful.
Lifelong friends Frog and Toad go from trying to find Spring “around the corner” and other such adventures to the slightly less charming but no less important adventures of growing up. This book made me smile and laugh out loud on more than one occasion (I also think “Blah” when checking my bank account, Toad). I had to show some of these little tales to my own best friend, my husband.
Others were unexpectedly touching. There’s one in particular about trying to stretch and patch a beat-up old coat because of the guilt felt when purchasing a new one, even though it was needed… Let’s just say I got it. The author completely understood the assignment, transitioning classic characters into something intended for an older audience, all while keeping the spirit of the originals.
And the illustrations! While they weren’t a dead ringer (of course), they still looked great and matched the tone of the book. Plus, you can’t have a collection such as this without the whimsical yet tongue-in-cheek visual additions.
I do have to say: This book is short. Like, really short. It is almost as short as the original books that were intended for early readers. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I feel it’s worth noting. Then again, this is one of those books that begs to be shared. Read it, then gift it to a friend on a rainy day. Maybe they’ll pass it on to another friend who could use a smile…books are the gift that keeps on giving, after all. Or, you can keep it on your shelf, where the original Frog and Toad used to reside, so you always have a friend to come back to when you need simple comfort. Either way, you’ll get your money’s worth.
Frog and Toad are Doing their Best is a smile in book form, intended for grown-ups who sometimes don’t feel so grown-up. And really, isn’t that most of us?
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
Lifelong friends Frog and Toad go from trying to find Spring “around the corner” and other such adventures to the slightly less charming but no less important adventures of growing up. This book made me smile and laugh out loud on more than one occasion (I also think “Blah” when checking my bank account, Toad). I had to show some of these little tales to my own best friend, my husband.
Others were unexpectedly touching. There’s one in particular about trying to stretch and patch a beat-up old coat because of the guilt felt when purchasing a new one, even though it was needed… Let’s just say I got it. The author completely understood the assignment, transitioning classic characters into something intended for an older audience, all while keeping the spirit of the originals.
And the illustrations! While they weren’t a dead ringer (of course), they still looked great and matched the tone of the book. Plus, you can’t have a collection such as this without the whimsical yet tongue-in-cheek visual additions.
I do have to say: This book is short. Like, really short. It is almost as short as the original books that were intended for early readers. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I feel it’s worth noting. Then again, this is one of those books that begs to be shared. Read it, then gift it to a friend on a rainy day. Maybe they’ll pass it on to another friend who could use a smile…books are the gift that keeps on giving, after all. Or, you can keep it on your shelf, where the original Frog and Toad used to reside, so you always have a friend to come back to when you need simple comfort. Either way, you’ll get your money’s worth.
Frog and Toad are Doing their Best is a smile in book form, intended for grown-ups who sometimes don’t feel so grown-up. And really, isn’t that most of us?
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
July 22, 2025
I don’t remember growing up reading Frog and Toad, but I do remember reading them to my children and every single one of them loved the books as did I. This parody is fantastic! It is appropriate for kids, but kids won’t get a lot of the jokes and situations like adults will. This is definitely geared towards adults, and I would even be more specific and say it’s probably more geared towards older adults, late 30s and up. This book had me laughing out loud at times and this book warmed my heart and made me nostalgic for the original stories. It’s a quick easy read, probably can do it in one sitting, and it’s totally worth it. I’m grateful for the friend who loaned it to me and made me aware of its existence ❤️
December 3, 2024
Frog and Toad stories were some of my favorite as a little kid, and still are as a big kid. This parody perfectly captures the voicing of the originals while updating F+T's lives as they navigate the strange(r) world of adulthood. Between the mishaps and misfires to the tender and warm moments, this little book has big heart and is the perfect bedtime read for today's adults. Thank you for making me feel better, even if just for a little while. Good night and sweet dreams!
April 23, 2022
Fun bedtime read-aloud. The vignettes manage to retain the sweet simplicity of the F&T stories, while adding a humorous twist by using domestic scenarios familiar during Covid. We're all doing the best we can...
December 19, 2023
This was as cute as I expected.
“Thank you, Frog." said Toad. "I am sorry I got so anxious. I forgot to take my Lexapro today."
"Time means nothing," said Toad. "Time is just the thing that happens between snacks."
“Thank you, Frog." said Toad. "I am sorry I got so anxious. I forgot to take my Lexapro today."
"Time means nothing," said Toad. "Time is just the thing that happens between snacks."
Read
April 15, 2024Ok, this was adorable. I have to admit, my expectations were fairly low but this was so fun and oddly comforting. The current world often (always?) feels like a dumpster fire, but I truly feel like if we could all just agree to live our lives like Frog and Toad we would all be better off.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews