The Best Children’s Books Are Going To Be A Streaming Series

Apple TV is expanding its kids' shows with an adaptation of the classic children's books Frog and Toad.

By Douglas Helm | Published

Apple TV+ is continuing to make a big push for more children’s content on its platform, and in Spring we’ll be getting an animated series of the best children’s books Frog and Toad. According to Comicbook.com, the beloved characters will appear on the streaming platform on April 28th.

Frog and Toad is a series of children’s books written by Arnold Lobel. The books depict the friendship between the two animals, with Frog being the more relaxed of the two and Toad being the more uptight one. The books have previously been adapted as claymation films and as a Broadway musical.

The new Apple TV+ Frog and Toad series will also follow the friendship between the two characters, while celebrating their differences. Rob Hoegee will be serving as showrunner on the animated series while Titmouse produces the animation. Titmouse is known for their more adult-oriented series like Star Trek: Lower Decks, The Legend of Vox Machina, and numerous projects for Adult Swim.

Frog and Toad is executive produced by Hoegee along with Adrianne Lobel, Adam Lobel, Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio, and Ben Kalina. The series also has an amazing cast that includes Nat Faxon as Frog and Kevin Michael Richardson as Toad. The series will also feature appearances from Ron Funches, Fortune Feimster, Cole Escola, Aparna Nancherla, John Hodgman, Yvette Nicole Brown, Stephen Tobolowsky, Tom Kenny, Selene Luna, Margaret Cho, and Betsy Sodaro.

Along with Frog and Toad, Apple TV+ is bringing plenty more kid’s content to its streaming platform this year. The platform will be bringing back new seasons of shows like Harriet the Spy, Pinecone & Pony, Pretzel and the Puppies, and Stillwater. Apple will also be streaming new original series like Eva the Owlet and Jane.

Fans of the Peanuts can also look forward to Apple TV+ adding more classics to the Peanuts Classics collection, including the Valentine’s Day special and Emmy award-winning episodes like “You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown,” and “Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown.” Other than the Valentine’s Special, the classic Peanuts episodes will be added to the platform on May 5, shortly after the Frog and Toad premiere on April 28.

Dedicating resources to children’s programming like Frog and Toad is helping to set Apple TV+ apart from its streaming competitors. While other platforms have children’s content, Apple is doing a big push for new and original children’s series. Of course, Netflix still has the ever-popular Cocomelon, but they don’t focus on new children’s properties quite as heavily.

Older Apple TV+ subscribers shouldn’t have to worry about children’s shows like Frog and Toad taking over the platform completely, as the streamer still has plenty of adult-oriented original shows that are doing well. Shows like Ted Lasso and Severance show that Apple has an eye for comedy and drama. Many of Apple’s most popular series are both critically acclaimed and have higher viewership numbers.

Apple TV+ may not be quite as robust as other competitors when it comes to the number of shows and movies, but Apple seems to be focusing on quality over quantity. If Apple TV+ continues to build its offerings and balance kid’s shows and adult shows, it could be more competitive than ever. If you’re interested or nostalgic for the books, make sure to check out Frog and Toad when it hits Apple TV+ in April.