DK Readers: Tale of a Tadpole (Level 1: Beginning to Read) [Paperback]

Karen Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: DK READERS

This Level 1 book is appropriate for children just beginning to read.

For children who are just beginning to read and who have a limited vocabulary, these 32-page Level 1 books-about everything from tadpoles to puppies-use word repetition and simple sentences to convey meaning. Picture dictionary boxes with word labels "show" the meanings of words. These books contain between 400 and 450 words each, and they are 80 percent pictures and 20 percent text. The Dorling Kindersley Readers combine an enticing visual layout with high-interest, easy-to-read stories to captivate and delight young bookworms who are just getting started. Written by leading children's authors and compiled in consultation with literacy experts, these engaging books build reader confidence along with a lifelong appreciation for nonfiction, classic stories, and biographies. There is a DK Reader to interest every child at every level, from preschool to grade 4.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-With a spare, flowing text, this book covers the growth and development cycle of a frog from egg to tadpole to mature adult with comments on the animal's anatomy and physiology and likely predators. It is heavily illustrated with striking full-color photographs and insets that invite a close inspection of features that might normally be overlooked, such as the creature's delicate fingers, tiny nostrils, or long tongue. The photographs are well chosen to illustrate this lively, carefully written narrative. Although the content differs little from a host of other books including Gail Gibbons's Frogs (Holiday, 1993) and Douglas Florian's Discovering Frogs (Scribners, 1986), the stunning illustrations and targeted easy-reader audience make it a worthwhile addition.
Stephanie Bianchi, National Science Foundation Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN (November 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789434377
• ISBN-13: 978-0789434371
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,340,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent non-fiction for preschoolers, July 11, 2000

By 

"booksandbuddies" - See all my reviews

This review is from: DK Readers: Tale of a Tadpole (Level 1: Beginning to Read) (Paperback)

This book works well as a non-fiction read-aloud for preschoolers. Great photos keep their attention as the book briefly, but thoroughly, describes the environment & life of a frog from egg to mature frog. Wallace does a better job than some similar books at providing a bit of a story-line to go along with all of the facts.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tadpoles rule!, January 13, 2001

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DK Readers: Tale of a Tadpole (Level 1: Beginning to Read) (Hardcover)

"Tale of a Tadpole" combines excellent full-color photographs with a simple text by Karen Wallace in order to tell the story of a tadpole's life cycle. The result is a delightful book for beginning readers.

Like the other books in this series, "Tale of a Tadpole" includes a "Picture Word List" at the end. This is basically a summary of vocabulary words with a photograph to illustrate each word: "gills," "eye," etc. The main text of the book begins with the newly laid eggs, and depicts the tadpole (and sometimes his siblings) hatching, evading predators, and undergoing the marvelous metamorphosis into a full-grown frog.

The photography is superb. Both "action shots" and more relaxed scenes are skillfully captured. And our star tadpole/frog is a most appealing hero! Overall, I highly recommend this book both for its educational value and for its charm.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice Book but not for Just Starting Readers - a review of DK's "Tale of a Tadpole", February 24, 2006

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: DK Readers: Tale of a Tadpole (Level 1: Beginning to Read) (Paperback)

This is another of the Eyewitness Readers series. Labeled as Level 1 --Beginning to Read-- I think that it would be a little too much for a real beginning reader. [I think of a real beginner as one who might start with the first Bob Books.]

First, the sentences are a little long and second, the vocabulary is a little advanced. There are words such as: hundreds, golden-skinned, dragonfly, snatches, stickleback, nostril, hungry and tongue.

Here is an example of text from page 22 so you can judge the level for yourself.

Frogs must keep their skin slimy.
He hops back in the pond
and swims for a while.
Then he climbs onto a log.

Three Stars. [C+]. A good selection for children of all ages who interested in all things Froggy. The pictures good, but actually prefer Alex Vern's book, "Where Do Frogs Come From". [We found the pictures even better, and the text more suitable for early readers.]

The text in this book is better for readers with a little experience under their belts. [Early 1st Grade? Though as we all know, there is a huge variation in reading levels at these young ages.]