Outside In and the Inside Out: A Story About Arnold Lobel
by Emmy Kastner; illus. by the author
Primary    Viking    40 pp.
9/25    9780593692509    $18.99

This picture-book biography of Arnold Lobel (1933–1987), which somewhat mimics the look of Lobel’s Frog and Toad series, explores his life through the lens of things that inspired his art and storytelling. As with many authors and artists, childhood illness encouraged Lobel’s introspection: “He spent months in the hospital drawing and reading and drawing some more while he recovered, watching the outside from the inside.” Quirky illustrations in gouache, pencil, and ink suit Lobel’s personality. The typeface, placement of text on the pages, and liberal use of spot illustrations evoke the feeling of the early-reader format for which he is best known. Kastner focuses on Lobel’s desire to bring what was inside himself out into the world, as well as his twin interests in nature and the comforts of home. She has an eye for details that will pique children’s interest, such as that the adult Lobel kept a gorilla suit in his closet and had a pet turtle named Wilbira, and mentions his late-in-life coming-out with a light touch. Readers will get a sense of Lobel’s life, work, and personality in a book that’s as warm and vibrant as his best characters. An author’s note, a source list, and a list of published works give curious readers more to explore.

From the November/December 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.