Outside In and the Inside Out: A Story About Arnold Lobel

K-Gr 3–Kastner (While You’re Asleep) explains that “this story begins with a boy and a pair of wet socks.” After all, everyone knows the feeling of wet socks, so beginning there gives readers an entry into the life of author and illustrator Arnold Lobel. Each page shows his progress from months on bedrest as a child, when drawing gave him something to do, then carries on up to his career as an award-winning children’s book creator. Gouache, pencil, and ink illustrations capture the feeling of Lobel’s artistic style. Spot illustrations accompany short text phrases describing events from art school through marriage and his first job. Vignettes showcase how he “put himself into his work. Literally.” And Kastner slips herself onto the page, too. Illustrations show Lobel and his children observing frogs while on vacation and then depicts him sketching out the characters of Frog and Toad at his desk. Readers learn that “every story starts with an idea” and “comes to an end,” but “we’ll find Arnold in his stories.” The author’s note not only describes her trepidation over writing a book about someone whom she admires, but also includes many more details about Lobel’s life and career. A list of sources and a bibliography complete the book.