Tad

May 4, 2020
This smartly constructed story follows a school of tadpoles as they grow and change—all except the smallest, Tad. The tadpoles’ nemesis is an ancient fish named Big Blub (“He was as old as the mud, they said”), who is partial to eating tadpoles. Underwater effects and a blue-green palette evoke murky liquidity as the tadpoles, with big, inquisitive eyes, achieve frogdom one by one: “We’ve lost our tails, we’ve lost our tails!” they cry. The tension mounts as Tad notices her companions leaving (“Where had they all gone? She didn’t like to think”). Finally, Tad finds herself alone in the pond, and an inky double-page spread shows her cowering behind rocks as bubbles from below signal a hungry fish; she escapes in the nick of time. With firm command of his artwork and his pacing, Davies weds keen suspense to the slow, difficult process of waiting for milestones. By hitching that dilemma to the energy of an enemy-prey drama, he makes Tad’s frustration—and delight at discovering where the others have gone—all the more vivid. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from March 1, 2020
A tiny tadpole finally finds her frog legs. Tad, depicted as an earnest yellow eye attached to a wiggly black tail, is "the smallest almost-a-frog in the whole wide pond." She wriggles "twice as fast just to keep up" with her endearing tadsiblings, all of them bursting with expression even though they are all pretty much simple egg-shaped eyes with tails. But "she [is] strong and she [is] clever," and she counts on these skills to keep her safe from Big Blub, a creepy greenish fish who's reputed to feed on little tadpoles. "Tad [has] never seen Big Blub" and "decide[s] not to believe" in him, her smug smile turning anxious as she finds hiding spots, "just in case." The tadpoles grow legs and lose their tails, and they positively thrum with youthful energy as they rejoice in their new bodies--"All except for Tad," who stays bean-shaped and be-tailed. The number of Tad's tadbrothers and tadsisters starts to dwindle, slowly and ominously, until she's left all alone. The slow suspense, tapping into young children's fear of abandonment, builds masterfully with joyous payoff in a final, vibrant spread after Tad skedaddles away from Big Blub in a riotous burst of limbs. Davies' mostly muted palette is dominated by teal and algae green, enlivened with the tadpoles' bright yellow, orange, blue, and purple eyes. One of the cutest tadpole-to-frog stories ever. (Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from June 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 1-In this charming story, a little tadpole named Tad is a late bloomer. Her brothers and sisters morph into frogs sooner than she does. She is all alone and afraid of Big Blub, a big, nasty fish at the bottom of the pond. However, Tad puts self-confidence into practice and she doesn't give up, because she knows she is strong and clever. When she finally comes face-to-face with Big Blub, Tad gathers her courage and swims faster than ever. She swims to the top of the pond to escape and climbs onto a rock. It is then that Tad realizes she finally lost her tail. This is a title that teaches readers to accept themselves, never give up, and to stand up to bullies. The detailed illsutrations are colorful and bright. VERDICT Highly recommended for purchase. This is a story about resilience that would work in classrooms or public library collections.-Robin Sofge, Prince William P.L. Syst., VA

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