Tadpoles

by Matt James

One rainy morning, a father and son bond over a walk through a field full of freshly formed ponds teeming with tadpoles.

In this tender reflection on the fleeting rhythms of the natural world and the enduring love of family, a boy and his father spend a morning exploring an ephemeral pond, a delicate nursery formed by rainfall, perfect for sheltering tadpoles from predators as they grow. The boy’s father doesn’t live with him anymore, and the ponds may only be temporary, but together they make memories that just might last a lifetime.

With Tadpoles, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winning author and illustrator Matt James draws from his own memories as a parent and as a child to tell a wistful story that will be instantly recognizable to any families sharing memories of exploring together. For an extra treat, additional material at the back of the book enthusiastically outlines the habitats and life cycles that make up these special amphibian spaces.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Animals, Canada, Science, Family, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published May 30, 2023

Reviews

[wildct2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok story

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written in a stream-of-consciousness style that mirrors the way children tend to write and speak. I appreciated that after observing the tadpoles in a bucket, the child and his father release them back into their natural habitat.

[Debra]

A father and child share a day learning about spring rains, ephemeral ponds, and tadpoles while spending time together.

I do not have many books that are showing a child dealing with parents in two homes. I appreciate that included in this book, though minimally, I know many students will notice and understand. I really appreciate the back matter with scientific information in this picture book!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm almost willing to round this one up from a 3.5 to a 4.0 because of its subject matter and the understated way in which the story is told. The narrator, a young boy, cherishes the outings he and his father share, especially since he lives with his mother and doesn't get to see his father as often as he might like. The two of them typically go on walks, spending time outdoors enjoying nature. The boy is particularly interested in tadpoles and the ephemeral ponds in which some of them live. He and his father pay close attention to the changes in these small creatures over time. While some readers may dislike this book because so much is going on, I actually appreciated the parallels between those ephemeral ponds and his time with his father. Their moments together may be fleeting, but they're all the more important because they don't happen all the time. It's clear from the illustrations and text that he's had to adjust to these unexpected and unwanted changes in his life, but that he's also learned to accept them and cherish the time they have together. The text is written in the voice of a child, which makes it all the more relatable, and the eye-catching illustrations, created with acrylics, gouache, ink, cut paper, and photographs applied to cardboard for a unique look. Notably, the book jacket features a bucket of water in which the tadpoles are swimming, and the front and back covers are filled with close-ups of those tadpoles. This poignant story will stick in readers' memories even as its back matter about frogs and ephemeral ponds makes it a possible choice for a science lesson.

[Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book seems to be divided into two parts: first about life's changes and how everything is temporary, then it goes into the life cycle of a frog ... and leaves the readers hanging.

I would ask who the target audience is for this book since I don't let my kids say swear words.

Perhaps there is a deeper meaning to all this, but I am missing it. Sorry.

[Dawn Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (instead of 2) because of the interesting facts about tadpoles & frogs at the end of the book. There were just too many storylines in this picture book, too many ideas, too much unconnected tissue to the story!!!

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the beautiful watercolor illustrations in this slice of life picture book about tadpoles and ephemeral ponds.

Themes: Frogs/Tadpoles, Rain, Family, School
Age range: Kindergarten-Early Elementary

[Ammie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why in the world take a step away from the story and mention a kid saying swear words and worried that his dad didn't love him anymore? Completely killed the flow of information and made my 7 year old not want to finish the book.

[Briar · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a page that says he cusses because he's upset over his fathers divorce. Personally, I am skipping this page for my kiddos but the rest of the book is just about observing the world and observing some tadpoles

[Danielle T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about a boy who explores an abandoned farm with his dad, collecting tadpoles from an ephemeral pond and releasing them. it was nice to see separated parents in a story where that's *not* the main focus, normalizing that that's how some families are.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are nice. The story is weird and doesn't have a plot. It's just the boy reflecting on tadpole facts and incidents from his life.

[Margaret]

Still thinking about this one . . . more thoughts to follow.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book contains some beautiful illustrations.

[Lianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent metaphor for divorce and resilience, and absolutely stunning illustrations.

[Dylan Stoepel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really nice illustrations. Great for kids who are into frogs, maybe not so much for kids who aren't. An introspective, quiet, bedtime book.

[Olivia Delisle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really sweet message, might go over some kids heads though.

[S · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.4/5

Some of the illustrations were nice. The story line was okay.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed in the NYT Book Review, June 25, 2023: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/23/bo...