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PRESCHOOL
Davies, Benji

Tad

32 pp. | HarperCollins/Harper | June, 2020 | Trade ISBN 978-0-06-256359-0 $17.99
(2) PS Tiny Tad is the smallest of her "tadbrothers" and "tadsisters," standing out on the page from the many other tadpoles due to her unique yellow color and the way she lags behind. Her siblings warn her about Big Blub, "a great big nasty fish" shown against a background of murky deep water, so she stays in the shallows and hides behind rocks. Gradually the other tadpoles grow legs (and lose their tails), and Tad is left all alone. "But she was strong and she was clever and she knew all the best hiding places. Big Blub would never catch her. Oh no! Big Blub!" The previous pages are almost all shades of green, but as Tad finally takes a jump, this double-page spread shows brightly colored flowers and sparkling blue water, with comical big-eyed frogs smiling as they watch her leap. The final spread shows Tad with her froggy siblings curled up again in a leaf surrounded by lush plants in a red, pink, and blue terrestrial setting. The book's pacing is strong, with exciting moments printed in big letters and with skillful page-turns to emphasize the action. The theme of the tiny overcoming the big is universally resonant, and the ending is both triumphant and cozy. Bold visuals and a conversational tone provide for a great storytime choice.
Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

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