As a child, I wasn’t a fan of characters who were grumpy. I liked Ernie, but I didn’t like Bert. I wanted to befriend Pooh Bear, but not Eeyore. Then there was Frog and Toad. My sister and I loved these characters, but I didn’t fully understand them. Six-year-old me would tell you Frog was nice and Toad was mean.

Why? Toad was grumpy. He was a pessimist; when he came in from the rain, he believed the day was “spoiled”. Toad is also greedy – we all remember the cookie incident. Plus, he’s a worrywart. On Christmas Eve, he’s certain Frog was eaten by a big animal when the poor amphibian is simply running late!

I re-read my childhood copy of Frog and Toad All Year in honor of the new Frog and Toad series on Apple TV+. Like Winnie-the-Pooh or Paddington, these are timeless characters who cut right through to your heart with their philosophical musings and gentle humor. I fell in love with these books all over again, and I soon realized six-year-old me had misjudged Toad. Toad isn’t a bad guy. He’s grumpy, but he’s not mean – just introverted.

Toad’s stubborn, quiet personality was what made the stories work. Take the story “Down the Hill”, for example. Frog wants to play outside in the snow with Toad, but Toad would rather stay in his nice warm bed. Author Arnold Lobel doesn’t present Toad’s choice as wrong. Likewise, he doesn’t present Frog as right. They’re simply two friends who disagree.

Frog cheerfully enters the house and bundles Toad up in winter clothes. They tramp through the snow and Frog announces his plans to go sledding down a steep hill. That’s terrifying for poor Toad! But Frog says this:

“Do not be afraid…I will be with you on the sled. It will be a fine, fast ride. Toad, you sit in front. I will sit right behind you.” (My emphasis.)

Frog’s dialogue reveals a lot about Toad. He’s only willing to sled if Frog is there to support him. Frog pulls Toad out of his shell, but also challenges him. He asks Toad to sit in front even though he knows Toad doesn’t want to go sledding. I don’t know about you, but that would make me even more nervous!

Toad is a reflection of an introverted child, and he helps introverted readers process their feelings. As this story shows, he’d rather be in bed on a cold day. He worries and grumps over new and unusual situations, and that’s okay. Toad teaches children that you don’t have to be outgoing to be brave. In fact, he grows braver as he sleds down the hill, thanking Frog for riding with him. He never realizes Frog fell off the sled at the start of the ride!

Writers can learn a lot about writing internal conflict from Toad. Toad has a rich inner life, and his emotional wins are compelling, even if they seem small compared to an extroverted character. To me, a character’s inner conflict is more interesting than their external conflict as it gives readers something to relate to. In Toad’s case, it makes him feel real!

Writers should also recognize that an introverted character has lots of positive emotions and qualities as well. They aren’t just worrywarts! Though Toad is grumpy, he has a big heart. He is very loyal, loves giving gifts, and always wants to help Frog. Once I realized Toad wasn’t just “mean” or “bad”, I figured out who he really was – human. He has a full range of emotions, both positive and negative. Likewise, children’s writers must create well-rounded characters with big feelings, just like they would for a novel. Kids may see the world as black-and-white, but giving them characters with a full range of emotions will help them understand their own emotions. Kids develop empathy when parents and teachers ask what a character might be feeling. Toad’s insistence on staying inside becomes a teachable moment when you view it through this lens!

I’m very grateful for Frog and Toad and its beautiful, thoughtful characters. Especially Toad! He is a very good friend to Frog who is always there when he needs him. They may like different things, but that doesn’t make Toad bad. He’s introverted, and Lobel celebrates that. Toad is both a teacher and a student, guiding children and learning a lesson in each simple story. Now that I know who he really is, I think we shall be friends.

What are your thoughts on writing introverted characters? Do you know a picture book with a strong introverted character? Let me know in the comments! Happy writing! 😊