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The Mysterious Tadpole
It soon becomes clear that Louis's pet tadpole is not turning into an ordinary frog.
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
January 1st 1977
by Dial
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For his birthday every year this boy's uncle gives him exotic species he finds during his exursions, and one year he gives him a tadpole. The tadpole grows too big for the bowl, so it goes in a tank. Then it grows too big for the tank, so it goes in the tub. It really likes cheeseburgers around this time. When it gets too big for the tub, the boy puts it in the school pool, since it's summer. However, once classes start in the fall, the tadpole has to get out, so the boy is pretty upset. It's a...more
The first thing that caught my attention when reading The Mysterious Tadpole was its brilliant illustrations. The uses of bright colors work well to grab the reader’s attention. In the story the young books uncle gives him a tadpole for his birthday. However he soon comes to find that this is no ordinary tadpole. The tadpole grows and grows. First it outgrows its fishbowl, then its tank, even the bathtub, until it is too big to fit even in the schools swimming pool. The school librarians help th...more
The Mysterious Tadpole
Written By: Steven Kellogg
Illustrated By: Steven Kellogg
Book Type: Fables
“The Mysterious Tadpole” is the story of a boy named Louis and his tadpole Alphonse. Louis’s uncle got him a gift for his birthday. The tadpole he got from his uncle became huge and he had to be kept his tadpole, Alphonse, in the pool at the local school. Alphonse loved the water; it became clear that Alphonse was not turning into an ordinary frog. When the science teacher at the school discovered the...more
Written By: Steven Kellogg
Illustrated By: Steven Kellogg
Book Type: Fables
“The Mysterious Tadpole” is the story of a boy named Louis and his tadpole Alphonse. Louis’s uncle got him a gift for his birthday. The tadpole he got from his uncle became huge and he had to be kept his tadpole, Alphonse, in the pool at the local school. Alphonse loved the water; it became clear that Alphonse was not turning into an ordinary frog. When the science teacher at the school discovered the...more
Jun 03, 2012
Robert
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Robert by:
flowers22
This just didn't suit my fancy. There is nothing bad, but really, this Clifford the Big Red Dog in tadpole form. I'm not a fan of Clifford, therefore, it is no surprise a large pet tadpole is equally unexciting.
A little boy receives a tadpole as a gift from a faraway uncle. The tadpole grows and grows. He becomes a problem. Magically, they are able to purchase a swath of land in a city to build a swimming pool. The book ends with another unique gift from the uncle.
I am sure some like this kind o...more
A little boy receives a tadpole as a gift from a faraway uncle. The tadpole grows and grows. He becomes a problem. Magically, they are able to purchase a swath of land in a city to build a swimming pool. The book ends with another unique gift from the uncle.
I am sure some like this kind o...more
May 14, 2011
Logan
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
abandoned,
speculative-fiction
I got this book at the library based on the story line, about a Scottish tadpole that grows into a big Nessie-like friendly monster. I thought it would be a nice follow-up to our success with Dick King-Smith's The Water Horse. But Logan took one look at the Barney-like cartoon illustrations and said he didn't want to read it. I have to admit, they were a turn-off for me as well.
Steven Kellogg's illustrations are magnificient and eye-pleasing. The story of The Mysterious Tadpole is heart-warming, sweet, and tender. Louis loves his tadpole,Alphonse, even if he is a tad too big. He tries desperately to find a home for his new giant friend...but all the options will cost oodles of money. Good thing Alphonse has a nose for finding treasures.
Used for "Frog Fever" Storytime-May, 2010.
Used for "Frog Fever" Storytime-May, 2010.
Albert receives a tadpole from his Uncle McAllister as a birthday present. Albert called his tadpole Alphonse. He kept growing and became so large that he stays in the school pool. The librarian helps him discover that Alphonse is a Lock Ness monster. They retrieve treasure for a wreck and build a new pool. It is already his next birthday and his uncle delivers an egg!
One of my favorites. Louis recieves a tadpole in the mail from his uncle in Scotland. Louis soon realizes that his tadpole is not a frog, but a Loch Ness monster. The stories go through the adventures of Louis and his "tadpole" in his search to find facilities to take care of the "tadpole." Could be read during a science unit.
Feb 14, 2011
Alison
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childrens-books,
science
Good loving story for a learning reader, many questions about inferences could be asked about this book. Many students have pets they care for deeply and many of them can relate to this book. This book would also be a great introduction for a tadpole lesson and introducing the process in to a frog.
This is a very dynamic and interesting story about a boy who gets a tadpole as a gift from his uncle. This would be a great story for students who are interested in nature or to use for a science lesson. This book is very well written and can easily keep a class' attention during a read-aloud.
Who doesn't love Steven Kellog? In this story a tiny tadpole grows--and grows--and grows, causing lots of problems (where will she live? What will she eat?). While it's a great, lively story, the intricate illustrations make this book more suited for one-on-one than story time reading.
Good book for a science lesson on tadpoles. In this book a baby fish became friends with a tadpole which he thought was another fish like himself. After growing into a frog, he came back to tell his fish friend all about the new things he saw on his journey.
Reid picked this one up at the library and since I like Steven Kellogg's illustrations, we checked it out. What a pleasant surprise. This is such a cute story and I love the illustrations. We'll own this one before to long.
Oct 19, 2011
Kendall
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childrens-books-and-first-readers
Oh, do the little guys love this one. Such a fun story to include with the frog unit that I do in library. It requires some explanation of Loch Ness...but aside from that, it's a successful hit. A whole lotta fun.
Spoilers: It's not a tadpole! My only concern when reading the book is that wouldn't the chlorine from the pool make for an improper living environment for this "tadpole"? Anyway, adorable art and a cute story.
A picture book from the Read-Aloud Handbook. Cute. Plus a chance to use a Scottish accent. Boy gets present from Scottish uncle, thinks it's a tadpole. Turns out to be the loch ness monster.
This was a favorite in the grade 2/3 classroom in which I was pushing in as an America Reads tutor. My son, in 3rd grade, loved it as well and wanted to read it multiple times aloud at bedtime.
I use this story to start discussing the life cycle of a frog. The students love when I read this story to them because they imagine what it would be like if they had a pet tadpole!
This is a great book to read to a second grade class when they learn about life cycles. This shows them the about the cycle of a frog and what happens to him during the cycle.
My 4 and 6 year old loved this book. The pictures in the 25th anniversary edition tell the story even more thoroughly than the words. It's endearing and adorable.
Great story for teaching problem-solving. What would you do if you had a giant tadpole and needed a place to keep him?
I enjoyed reading this one with my elementary school classes, and it's still a charming book with fun illustrations!
Seemed an alright book to me, but kiddo refused to read it after the first time through. No idea why.
I love Steven Kellogg's artwork. Loved seeing the tadpole grow into the Loch Ness Monster.
Mar 10, 2009
RuthAnn
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-literature
Children love predicting what will happen to Louis's pet tadpole as he grows and grows!
Mar 24, 2013
Gps
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
toddler-read-aloud-library
i love the illustrations..and the story offers all sorts of questions and ideas re problem solving. and, of course, at the end, there is yet another problem to solve...and it all brings a smile to the face of the reader.
Adorable story. Read it with my daughter and now with my grandsons. A family favorite.
This world needs more picture books about the Loch Ness Monster.
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I am glad somebody found Nessie without taking her too seriously.
Funny and enjoyable- the illustrations were great!
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Steven Kellogg is an author and illustrator who has contributed over 90 books for children. He is best known for writing books about animals, for which he credits his grandmother .
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