A VERY GOOD 'YEAR' FOR YOUNG ONES.

Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic

YOU DON'T NEED to know the tales by Arnold Lobel exactly word for word to get a charge out of the musical ``A Year With Frog and Toad.'' But a bit of preperformance reading time certainly figures to enhance the delight quotient for the younger set.

Kay Cole, who directs the musical's L.A. premiere at the International City Theatre, has become the go-to song-and-dance lady of all shows with animal themes, and ``Frog and Toad'' is critter-stocked.

Beside the titular amphibians, the musical offers snails, birds, turtles, mice and squirrels, all played by Elizabeth Brackenbury, Jennifer Clinton and Jeffrey Landman. There are no masks, extreme makeup or elaborate body wear. Nadine Parkos' costumes are a brightly colorful pastiche of topcoats and tights. Shells (of the turtle and snail variety) are particularly imaginative.

Frog (Gary Cearlock) is tall, with mad scientist glasses and green tinged hair. Toad (Danny Stiles) is short, a little on the portly side, decidedly the clown of the duo. Both performers sing Robert and Willy Reale's songs with plenty of charm and interact with definite best-friend chemistry.

If heavy frustration is worth a giggle, than Stiles' rant at his garden seeds for not growing fast enough should produce laughs by the bucket. Just as irresistible is the professional pride expressed by a messenger snail (Landman) who delivers a letter and later sings ``I'm Coming Out of My Shell.''

Evan Henerson, [phone]

evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD - Three and one half stars

Where: International City Theatre, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Closes Sunday.

Tickets: $30 to $45. Call [phone].

In a nutshell: Gentle, witty and decidedly for the young.