Tadpoles [Hardcover]

Betsy James (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1999 | Age Level: 3 and up

In a follow-up to her very successful book Mary Ann, Betsy James has chosen tadpoles as her next subject. The ones growing from the eggs Molly found in the pond are more fun than her new baby brother. Under Molly's tender care, the tadpoles grow and thrive. But when they become frogs, a brokenhearted Molly must return them to their pond. How will she ever be able to part with them? In a surprise ending, it is her baby brother who helps his big sister in a most unexpected way!

More than a book about frogs and their babies, Tadpoles shows how all living things grow-including people. Betsy James's exuberant illustrations capture the ups and downs of the relationship between a child and her new sibling, while cutaway pictures on the pages accurately detail the tadpoles' growth. Combining science with storytelling, this book gives good advice on how to care for tadpoles-and little brothers!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Neatly tucked inside a humorous tale about accepting a new sibling, a science lesson illustrates how tadpoles develop. Decidedly underwhelmed by the arrival of her little brother ("All he could do was yell and smell and drool"), Molly brings some frog eggs home from the pond one day. Under her mother's patient tutelage, she observes their growth into tadpoles and, eventually, into frogs that need to be returned to the pond. Meanwhile, Molly's brother is also growingAand growing on Molly; the tadpole and baby brother story lines intersect gracefully and without much manipulation. James's (Mary Ann) realistic story is larded with believable emotion ("I'd rather have a frog than a brother") and deftly intertwined with a generous helping of information about tadpoles and frogs. Colored-pencil drawings in a childlike style appear slightly underdone or rough-hewn; a closer look shows sophisticated cross-hatching and careful balance of the palette. Round insets act like a magnifying glass, offering close-ups of the various stages of frog development. Young naturalists will be clamoring for tadpoles of their own. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-This picture book combines an enlightening science lesson with a story about a sibling relationship. Molly's baby brother yells, smells, and drools but the real problem is that he takes Ma's attention away from Molly. She finds some frog eggs at the pond, and her mother suggests that she scoop up a batch to take home. Ma explains a frog's stages of development, comparing the process to Davey's growth patterns. At home, Molly places the eggs in a fishbowl and cares for them. During the summer, they change from tadpoles to frogs and Davey develops from a crawling baby to a walking toddler. Finally, it is time for Molly to return the frogs to their pond and she reluctantly lets them go. James perfectly captures the child's moods and movements in the brightly colored illustrations, creating facial expressions with just a few simple lines. Objects are colored in with hatch marks and outlined in a darker shade, giving the pictures a textured, shimmery quality. While the artwork focuses on the human characters, smaller insets painted in a more realistic style show the frogs' growth. The last page provides more information about these animals and their development. An excellent story for one-on-one sharing, and a book of real substance for transitional readers.
Marlene Gawron, Orange County Library, Orlando, FL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525461973
• ISBN-13: 978-0525461975
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,557,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works on several levels, April 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Tadpoles (Hardcover)

This book is great not only for children who are interested in frogs and the natural world, but also for children with a new sibling. The story beautifully illustrates the process of tadpoles becoming frogs, but it also cleverly paralells the development of a younger sibling. The little girl at the center of the story watches over the course of a summer as her tadpoles develop along with her baby brother, who learns to crawl, then to walk. Like her froggies, his legs are developing, too. This book was interesting on both levels to my 2-1/2 year old son, who also has a new brother. Very enjoyable, with good lookiing illustrations.