Towed by Toad by Jashar Awan*

 American Library Association's Geisel Honor Book (distinguished beginning reader book)-2025

Toad is on the go, towing critters all over town. Pop persistently offers him food throughout the day, but Toad can't stop. Then Toad needs help. Who will help him?

The illustrations reminded me of Richard Scarry's books. I loved the internal rhyme in most lines.

*Highly recommend for beginning readers.

-Borrowed from the library.

McToad Mows Tiny Island by Tom Angleberger illustrated by John Hendrix*

 McToad likes Thursdays. It is the day he mows Tiny Island. A host of different transportation modes allows this big event to occur each Thursday. This book made me laugh! Please share it with your toddler and preschooler! I shared it with my teenage boys. 😁

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Hidden Life of a Toad by Doug Wechsler**

My sons and I leisurely read this book with wonder as we witness the changes and development in toads via magnified photographs.
Each photograph and page is labeled which day of its development it is.
**Highly, highly recommend.

Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman with help from John Niekrasz*

The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World
Ms. Rothman explores  different categories of nature, from the ground (land forms) to the skies and everything in between.
This book is loaded with information coupled with beautiful illustrations.
A beautiful book.  Everyone who comes to my house lately has received a free book talk about it! 😄

The Toad by Elise Gravel

In cartoon-fashion and with humorous comments from the toad, the reader learns interesting facts about toads.
This book is part of the series, "Disgusting Critters".
Perfect book for transitional readers or reluctant readers.
-Borrowed from the library.

Detective Gordon The First Case by Ulf Nilsson illustrated by Gitte Spee

Detective Gordan is a fat toad with a magnificent stamper.
One wintry night squirrel bursts into the police station exclaiming how thieves had stolen 204 nuts he had stored for winter.  Detective Gordan immediately left his toasty office with tea and cakes to investigate.  As the case progresses, he is blessed with an assistant who is spry and nimble but of course, not as clever as he is!
Can the two of them find the missing nuts and administer justice?
*Borrowed from the library.
Unique humor . . .I enjoyed the humor!

Toad Weather by Sandra Markle illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez*

The rainy day is making Ally and her grandmother grumpy.  When Ally's mother arrives home from work, however, she has a surprise for them.  Neither Ally or her grandmother desire to traipse out in the dark, rainy evening.  Their minds quickly change when they see all-the-toads!!
This story is based on a real occurrence in the Roxborough neighborhood in Philadelphia PA. The author explains this interesting event in "the author's note" section.
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed from the library.
Recommend reading this book in the spring or on a rainy, grumpy spring day.
Discuss how the characters' moods change and why they changed (character development).

Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard*

Join the Water Rat, Mole, Toad and Badger on adventures mainly instigated by Toad.
I read this book aloud to my kindergartner and third grader.  My youngest did not always look forward to hearing the story while my third grader thoroughly enjoyed it.
The language and word choice is descriptive utilizing a lot of figurative language.
*Highly recommend.
This is a book we will reread when my youngest is older.
We own this book.
I also purchased an abridged version illustrated by Inga Moore but wanted to read the original aloud first.  Ms. Moore's illustrations are lovely (and colored!).
Grade Level Equivalent: 8.3
Warning: The word "ass" is used frequently and not to describe a donkey but to describe each other.
This is the cover from Inga Moore's version:
  

Toad by Ruth Brown*

This simple book contains excellent word choice.
Ms. Brown uses interesting words to describe a toad.  The reader watches his fate unfold and will be delighted by the ending.
I would read this book when discussing word choice while writing or when introducing "expanding vocab.".
Strategies: expanding vocab./word choice, inferring, predicting
Borrowed from the library (wish I could buy this title!!  No many available for a reasonable price.).
*Highly recommend.
Grade Level Equivalency: 3.1

Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel*

Different stories that take place in the distinct seasons.
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: determining importance-retelling/story elements; inferring-character's feelings

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel*

Classic friendship tales!
Highly recommend.
Perfect for transitional/beginning reader.
Strategies: inferring character's feelings, determining importance-retelling/story elements

Toads on Toast by Linda Bailey illustrated by Colin Jack

Fox is tired of the same old toad for meals so he visits a bookstore to search in recipe books for more ideas.  Inspired, he goes to capture tender, young toads.  Mamma Toad steps and saves her toadlets from demise and solves Fox's problem at the same time!
Recipe for Mamma Toad's Secret Toad-in-a-Hole in the back.
Strategies: predicting; inferring