Magical Beasts can have character levels.
From the SRD:
The separate table for Intelligence ensures that no PC ends up with an Intelligence score lower than 3. This is important, because creatures with an Intelligence score lower than 3 are not playable characters. Creatures with any ability score lower than 1 are also not playable.
As mentioned in comments- Remorhaz, from the SRD:
Abilities: Str 26, Dex 13, Con 21, Int 5, Wis 12, Cha 10
No statistics is less than 3 - therefore - theoretically playable.
Ability modifiers would be:
- Strength +16
- Dexterity +2
- Constitution +10
- Intelligence -6
- Wisdom +2
- Charisma +0
Work with your DM to figure out a level adjustment. There are rules to figure out level adjustments within Savage Species.
Savage Species even outlays a monster class for the Griffon (p. 174). The Griffon is a magical beast. This could be a good model for your Ice Toad to follow, since Griffons can't speak as well.
Automatic Languages: None. A griffon cannot speak or communicate without the assistance of magic, but it can understand Common.
Communication without the assistance of magic could be a key factor. Tongues, comprehend languages, and etc. could be a further avenue of enabling communication.
Gloves of Man (Savage Species, p. 57) could be a good magic item investment as well.
These magic gloves provide humanoid fingers and thumbs for the wearer. Any creature may wear them, provided the creature has tentacles or paws over which to slip them.
Battle Signs and Drow Sign Language are examples of non-verbal communication that everyone in the party would have access too, including the magical beasts that otherwise wouldn't have a language.
One way to get a guaranteed language:
Druidic
A druid also knows Druidic, a secret language known only to druids, which she learns upon becoming a 1st-level druid. Druidic is a free language for a druid; that is, she knows it in addition to her regular allotment of languages and it doesn’t take up a language slot. Druids are forbidden to teach this language to nondruids.
Not to mention
Use Magic Device for scrolls that could change your form into one that could speak.
Use a Scroll
If you are casting a spell from a scroll, you have to decipher it first. Normally, to cast a spell from a scroll, you must have the scroll’s spell on your class spell list. Use Magic Device allows you to use a scroll as if you had a particular spell on your class spell list. The DC is equal to 20 + the caster level of the spell you are trying to cast from the scroll. In addition, casting a spell from a scroll requires a minimum score (10 + spell level) in the appropriate ability. If you don’t have a sufficient score in that ability, you must emulate the ability score with a separate Use Magic Device check (see above).