Where the willow tree meets the water, a tadpole met a caterpillar.
They gazed into each other's tiny eyes...and fell in love.
"I love everythi... read full description
reviews
Dec 27, 2011
Barky
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Sep 22, 2011
Tasneem
rated it: 
We had this book discussed in one of the philosophy thinking sessions. Analyzing it was pretty interesting but i think it's a bit too abstract or complex for children younger than 4th grade!
The ending was meanly SHOCKING to absolutely everyone.. Soooo unexpected !
I loved the drawings, they're very simple and and colors are beautifully childish !
The ending was meanly SHOCKING to absolutely everyone.. Soooo unexpected !
I loved the drawings, they're very simple and and colors are beautifully childish !
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Oct 07, 2011
Bianca
rated it:
I liked this book and although its not the best book for cross-curricular links I think it is an excellent resource for Science sessions. It could be used after a session of pond dippping at the farm, as it covers the topic of life cycle.
It is a story of a tadpole who falls in love with a caterpillar, they make a prommise to eachother that they will never change. Not long after making that promise, the tadpole begins to alter in appearance as he turns into a frog. The caterpillar bec More...
It is a story of a tadpole who falls in love with a caterpillar, they make a prommise to eachother that they will never change. Not long after making that promise, the tadpole begins to alter in appearance as he turns into a frog. The caterpillar bec More...
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Dec 12, 2011
Kara
rated it: 
A zany, unpredictable picture book from this best-selling and hilarious author/illustrator couple.
Tadpole loves his rainbow friend, the caterpillar, and she tells him she loves everything about him.
“Promise that you will never change,” she says.
But as the seasons pass and he matures, his legs grow, and then his arms – and what happens to his beautiful rainbow friend? As he sits on his lily pad, digesting the butterfly he has just eaten, he little realizes that now h More...
Tadpole loves his rainbow friend, the caterpillar, and she tells him she loves everything about him.
“Promise that you will never change,” she says.
But as the seasons pass and he matures, his legs grow, and then his arms – and what happens to his beautiful rainbow friend? As he sits on his lily pad, digesting the butterfly he has just eaten, he little realizes that now h More...
Nov 30, 2011
Lindsey
rated it: 
This book is about a tadpole and a caterpillar who love each other very much. The caterpillar tells the tadpole to promise that he will never change. As the tadpole got older, he changed into a frog and the caterpillar gets very upset that the tadpole didn't keep his promise so she goes off and forms a cocoon. The caterpillar later turns into a butterfly and finds a frog and the frog, being the older tadpole that the caterpillar once loved, eat the butterfly. The frog then wonders where the cate
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Jan 09, 2012
Vong
rated it: 
A wonderful and unpredictable tale about the love between a tadpole and a caterpillar.
They both take a vowel to never change. But as time goes by nature takes its course and the tadpole matures into a ribbeting frog!
At the same time the butterfly matures too!
One day the frog is sitting on his lily pad and sees a scrumptious butterfly and he quickly gobbles it up....
The next day he sits and waits for his love.
what has he done?
Read the book to find More...
They both take a vowel to never change. But as time goes by nature takes its course and the tadpole matures into a ribbeting frog!
At the same time the butterfly matures too!
One day the frog is sitting on his lily pad and sees a scrumptious butterfly and he quickly gobbles it up....
The next day he sits and waits for his love.
what has he done?
Read the book to find More...
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Dec 13, 2008
Travis
rated it:
I went to a workshop on books boys will want to read. This is one of the many titles that the presenter turned me on to.
The book is very simple. The format is great, the pictures are fun, but the story is the real selling point. The story progresses between a tadpole and caterpillar that have fallen in love. But as the tadpole begins to change, the butterfly doubts that he is seriously in love. The end of the book is hilarious and totally caught me off guard.
I have read More...
The book is very simple. The format is great, the pictures are fun, but the story is the real selling point. The story progresses between a tadpole and caterpillar that have fallen in love. But as the tadpole begins to change, the butterfly doubts that he is seriously in love. The end of the book is hilarious and totally caught me off guard.
I have read More...
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Dec 14, 2010
Kayla
rated it:
Not for the faint-at-heart adult, but great for every child with a sadistic side (and what child doesn't have a hidden or not-so-hidden sadistic side), including every first-grade boy in the world. I read with a high, squeaky voice for the caterpillar and a low, stopped-up-nose voice for the tadpole. Read around Valentine's Day, if possible...introduce by asking who likes mushy love stories, then tell them that this isn't one. Great when paired with a lesson on life cycles. Read aloud to the gro
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Jun 14, 2011
Cheryl in CC NV
rated it:
The other reviews say it better than I can. The shocking ending is hilarious, but I really wanted it to be a nice story about inner beauty. Recommended for adults - but read it yourself before sharing it with little ones. The pragmatic approach to relationships is refreshing, though. As Shel Silverstein reminds us (more tactfully) in the superb The Missing Piece, not everyone is going to find a fairy-tale style Happily Ever After.
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Jan 11, 2012
nicole
rated it:
One of the librarians I work with mentioned this weeks ago, but we didn't have a copy. When our inter library loaned copy arrived, we took a break from making bags for the preschoolers to read it. We kept the twist to ourselves and passed it on to the next unsuspecting person, until the whole office had read it. There was a pretty even split in terms of how it was received and I fell on the side who loved the dark humor. I love picture books that are as much for, if not more for, the adults in a
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Nov 06, 2011
Katie
rated it:
This is the best picture book EVER. I found this sometime in college when I was student teaching and I read it to my high school senior students. They were baffled, saddened and confused. Eighteen year old boys said, "That's messed up." Ever since then I've read it to all the classes I taught. I've read it to my boyfriend, roommates, and several coworkers. I need to carry a copy of it with me in my car, because you never know when you'll find a chance to read it to someone. SO GOOD.
May 27, 2009
Mary Ann
rated it:
"Where the willow meets the water, a tadpole met a caterpillar. They gazed into each other's tiny eyes ... and fell in love. She was his beautiful rainbow, and he was her shiny black pearl."
So starts this sweet but funny book that's perfect for 1st graders. Tadpole and caterpillar have found their true loves, and caterpillar says, "Promise me that you'll never change." But tadpole keeps changing (growing legs, etc.) and caterpillar gets very angry. Finally, More...
So starts this sweet but funny book that's perfect for 1st graders. Tadpole and caterpillar have found their true loves, and caterpillar says, "Promise me that you'll never change." But tadpole keeps changing (growing legs, etc.) and caterpillar gets very angry. Finally, More...
Apr 11, 2011
Kami
rated it:
Oh My Gosh! Where to begin...
When I started reading, I was like "ugh...this is going to be dumb." The ending was TOTALLY unexpected though. It was very sadistic and humorous. I think older kids would find this hilarious, but I think younger kids would cry.
The pictures and format are fun and unique.
This book isn't for everyone, but it sure gave me and my husband a good shock and laugh.
When I started reading, I was like "ugh...this is going to be dumb." The ending was TOTALLY unexpected though. It was very sadistic and humorous. I think older kids would find this hilarious, but I think younger kids would cry.
The pictures and format are fun and unique.
This book isn't for everyone, but it sure gave me and my husband a good shock and laugh.
Dec 09, 2010
Becky
rated it:
If you're thinking this sounds similar to The caterpillar and the polliwog, you are right. But the surprise ending may make you choke on your coffee. This would be a great read-aloud for 4th-6th grade.
"She was his beautiful rainbow, and he was her shiny black pearl."
"She was his beautiful rainbow, and he was her shiny black pearl."
Aug 02, 2010
Barbara
rated it:
Another picture book perfect for discussion with children of all ages though the younger ones might be horrified by the ending. What a perfect book for talking about relationships and promises with upper elementary and even middle school students! Of course, you could also take a scientific look at the surprising changes that afflict the characters . . .
Sep 10, 2011
dee
rated it:
I am giving it a two star rating because the illustrations were great, but reader beware this is not a book I think I would read to my little one. I read another great story about a butterfly and tadpole and their metamorphosis and it was great. So if you want one with a happy ending this is not it usless of course you are the frog.
Feb 23, 2011
Jen
rated it:
Tadpole and Caterpillar meet each other where the willow meets the water and they instantly fall in love. Caterpillar asks that Tadpole never changes and all of a sudden he starts growing legs, losing his tail and turning into a frog, therefore breaking his promise. The ending of the book had my kindergarten students just smiling!
Dec 05, 2011
Bethann
rated it:
This is an odd book for Americans. Apparently the humor is much different in other countries. While this book did make me laugh, I also thought it was inappropriate at the same time. I would only use this book to show older students the differences of other countries, that is all.
Dec 12, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
This book could be used to discuss the topic of love. It could also be a good book to really get the students' attention because it has a such a subtle and unexpected ending. This book should be used for older children because the ending involves the frog eating the butterfly.
Sep 20, 2011
Huda Felimban
rated it:
حكت لي تسنيم هذه القصة وصعقت بالنهاية غير المتوقعة
ماكان الغرض من القصة ياترى؟ فلسفي مبني على حقيقة علمية؟؟
أتوق لمعرفة تجارب المعلمين والمعلمات
ماكان الغرض من القصة ياترى؟ فلسفي مبني على حقيقة علمية؟؟
أتوق لمعرفة تجارب المعلمين والمعلمات
Apr 13, 2011
Laura
rated it:
What a misleading and sad story for young children. I guess some may find the ending to be funny, but it just made me sad! I do not think I would ever read this to children. I am not a fan of this book and was surprised to see the average rating as high as it is!
Apr 08, 2009
How funny and fabulous is this picture book?! It's about a tadpole and caterpillar that fall in love and the caterpillar is angry that the tadpole changes. Can they still find each other after both the tadpole and the caterpillar have went through their changes?
Dec 01, 2011
Jennesy
rated it:
At first I didn't like this book but the more I thought about it, it's pretty hilarious and true. It's just a part of nature, but I don't know if I would read this to young kids, maybe fourth fifth grade becasue they are more familiar with the life cycle.
Sep 25, 2010
Peacegal
rated it:
I would have hated this book had I read it at its intended age range, and no doubt would have closed the book in tears. However, as cynical adult librarians gathered around the Children’s shelving cart, we passed this around and laughed our butts off.
Apr 27, 2011
Alyce
rated it:
I am not sure about this book. I think it was meant to be funny, but for a child they might find it to be sad. I don’t think I would recommend it in an elementary classroom. The only thing that might be useful is the part about life cycles.
Apr 04, 2011
Nick
rated it:
I didn't like this book. It started out as an interesting good read, but the ending changed it. I think it could be used maybe as a humorous book for older students, but i would not read this to younger kids, I don't think they would understand.
Sep 08, 2011
Nojood
rated it:
Great text and wonderful illustrations. I would not read it to children though as it is bothersome. The idea is too complicated for children to understand. Even if they understand it, why would we want to present it to them?
Sep 01, 2010
Laura
rated it:
The British are just effed up...I guess the lesson to be learned is that everyone grows and changes. You shouldn't try not to or promise that you won't. Change is inevitable. Oh yeah, and don't eat your friends.
Jan 30, 2009
Tessa
rated it:
1. The book is designed so that the spine is the top of the page, if that makes any sense. Like a sketchpad. Refreshing!
2. Illustrations are scraggly watercolors. Simple and cute.
3. There's a twist!
2. Illustrations are scraggly watercolors. Simple and cute.
3. There's a twist!
Dec 13, 2011
Megan
rated it:
this book talks about the life cycles of a frog and a butterfly who fall in love with each other, but does not have a very good ending. you could use this book to talk about the stages that they go through.
