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Arnold Lobel

アーノルド・ローベル

Arnold Lobel

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1933-05-22 （Los Angeles, California, U.S.）
Died
1987-12-04 （New York City, U.S.） age 54
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Religion
Jewish (heritage)
Residence History
Los Angeles (birth) → Schenectady, New York (raised) → Brooklyn (studied at Pratt Institute) → Greenwich Village, New York (later life)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Illustrator
Active Years
1960-1987

Education

Pratt Institute
School of Art / Illustration
Period: 1951–1955
Year of Graduation: 1955
Country: United States
Graduated in 1955. Met Anita Kempler (Anita Lobel) while at Pratt.

Awards

Caldecott Medal
1981
Work: Fables
Organization: American Library Association
Result: Winner
Caldecott Honor
1971
Work: Frog and Toad Are Friends
Organization: American Library Association
Result: Honor
Caldecott Honor
1972
Work: Hildilid's Night
Organization: American Library Association
Result: Honor
Newbery Honor
1973
Work: Frog and Toad Together
Organization: American Library Association
Result: Honor
Garden State Children's Book Award
1977
Work: Mouse Soup
Organization: New Jersey Library Association
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Frog and Toad Are Friends

1970 Children's literature / Picture book 32 pages

A collection of short episodes about two friends, Frog and Toad, focusing on friendship and small everyday adventures.

FriendshipEveryday lifeComplementary personalities
Adaptations
  • [Musical] A Year with Frog and Toad (2003)

Frog and Toad Together

1972 Children's literature / Picture book 32 pages

Further episodes deepening Frog and Toad's friendship, with themes of cooperation and understanding.

FriendshipCooperation

Owl at Home

1975 Children's literature / Picture book 32 pages

A short story collection about an owl at home, characterized by quiet humor and warmth.

SolitudeEveryday oddities

Mouse Soup

1977 Children's literature / Picture book 40 pages

A fable-like collection centered on a mouse, combining humor with moral lessons.

FableHumor

Fables

1980 Fables / Picture book 96 pages

Contains about 20 animal fables. Light-toned storytelling with moral conclusions at the end of each tale.

FableMorality

Bibliography

  • The Ice Cream Cone Coot and Other Rare Birds
  • Frog and Toad Are Friends
  • Hildilid's Night
  • Frog and Toad Together
  • Owl at Home
  • Mouse Soup
  • Fables

Adaptations

  • Musical adaptation based on Frog and Toad: "A Year with Frog and Toad"

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Minimalist, warm proseChildren's stories that also incorporate adult emotions and experiences
Recurring Motifs
Animal charactersFriendshipSolitude and complementary pairsDomestic scenes

Health

  • AIDS
    1980年代（晩年まで）
    Long-term illness that impacted his health in later years and was related to his death.
  • Cardiac arrest
    1987年（死因）
    Died of cardiac arrest on December 4, 1987.

Legacy

Arnold Lobel made a significant impact on children's literature with his minimalist, emotionally resonant picture books. Works such as the Frog and Toad series and Fables remain beloved across generations; many of his artworks were donated to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

Museums

  • The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S. Opened in 2002

Academic Societies

  • Societies related to children's book writers (mentioned)

Archives

  • Arnold Lobel original art collection (donated to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art)

In Popular Culture

  • Popularized by the Broadway musical 'A Year with Frog and Toad'

Quotes

  • I cannot think of any work that could be more agreeable and fun than making books for children.
    Source: Interview / reminiscences (various sources) (1977)

Trivia

  • Began drawing during an extended childhood illness.
  • Reportedly came out to family in the mid-1970s.
  • His children donated many of his artworks to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.