Tad

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. [em](June) [/em]