Little Frog's Tadpole Trouble

Originally from North Carolina, TATYANA FEENEY studied illustration at the North East Wales College of Art and Design and now lives in Ireland. She is also the author of Small Bunny's Blue Blanket and Little Owl's Orange Scarf.

A happy frog family of three lives together contentedly—and Little Frog likes it that way. One day Mommy and Daddy tell Little Frog that he is going to be a big brother to not one, not two, but to NINE baby tadpoles. The young amphibian is not impressed, especially since the siblings can’t do anything—they can’t play the drums, or build a tower, or even jump. Furthermore, they take up all of Mommy and Daddy’s time, with bedtime stories, baths, and care giving. Soon enough the tadpoles grow into little frogs, and in a humorous sideways double-spread page, they prove to be quite adept at building tall towers. White backgrounds and simple line-and-wash drawings in greens and pinks showcase Feeney’s charming square froggies, who are full of personality. Subtle distinctions between boy and girl frogs are the dots on their tummies— three green ones for the boys and two green and one pink for the girls. A reassuring last page shows how Little Frog is the best big brother to them all. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Lolly Gepson