Arnold Stark Lobel (May 22, 1933 – December 4, 1987) was an American author of children's books, including the Frog and Toad series and Mouse Soup. He both wrote and illustrated those picture books, as well as Fables for which he won the 1981 Caldecott Medal recognizing the year's best-illustrated U.S. picture book.Lobel also illustrated the works of other authors, including Sam the Minuteman by Nathaniel Benchley, first published in 1969.
In 1974, four years after the publication of "Frog and Toad Are Friends", Lobel came out to his family as gay. "I think 'Frog and Toad' really was the beginning of him coming out," his daughter said.
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