Tad

Tad is the smallest tadpole in the pond and struggles to keep up with her many siblings who taunt her with the threat of Big Blub. Then Tad notices her brothers and sisters are disappearing – where have they gone? What will happen to her – she has caught the attention of Big Blub. Tad needs to do something she has never done before.

Benji Davies’ art work is vibrant, saturated colours capturing Tad’s watery world. The tadpoles wriggle across the pages, their movement conveyed through strong expressive lines. Every page is used to the full. Some take up a double spread emphasising Tad’s size in relation to the pond; while vignettes pick up details from the text. This is presented in a clear font that is both accessible and attractive to read. There are words to play with – swoosh, wiggle, even the name Big Blub and a bit of counting. The storyline is fun including as it does a sense of jeopardy; what does happen to all those tadpoles. Ah, that is the surprise.

This is picture book to enjoy from an author-artist who is making a name as one of the most consistent creators of the genre. Recommended for parents, librarians and teachers to share.