Arnold Lobel

The author and illustrator of the beloved picture book series of Frog and Toad, Arnold Stark Lobel was born in Los Angeles in 1933. As a young child, Lobel moved to Schenectady, New York, where he was raised. It is believed that the Frog and Toad series was based on these early childhood experiences. He described himself as a sad child who often took refuge in the local library. He particularly enjoyed picture books; he found them “capable of suggesting everything that is good about feeling well and having positive thoughts about being alive.”

Lobel attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn to pursue a degree in fine arts. He intended to focus his education in developing his skill and passion for illustration. Lobel did not get his first real break until 1971, when his book Frog and Toad earned the Caldecott Honor. Lobel died in 1987 due to cardiac arrest at the age of 54 years old. He had illustrated or written nearly 100 books.

Original Artwork