Tadpole's Promise

A tadpole and a caterpillar fall in love, promising to never change...well, *that* doesn't go well.

A darkly funny story, perfect for 4th graders & up - I've even recommended it to teens, and they ADORED it. ("You read this to CHILDREN?!?!)

Pair this one with Jon Klassen's delightfully twisted I Want My Hat Back and This Is Not My Hat for some unexpectedly dark stories for those older kid readers.

I have very mixed feelings about this picture book. Mainly because I'm not sure what message the author is trying to send readers. I liked the concept of the tadpole and caterpillar falling in love because they are from different species but undergo the same concept of physical changes. This can be compared to multiracial couples/relationships. The illustrations were bold and colorful. For example, the caterpillar was rainbow and the backgrounds were all blue, green, and purple colors. I also liked how the text had a touch of British humor. I was enjoying this book until the ending.
The ending of the book sent a mixed message. In the story, the tadpole meets the caterpillar and she asks him to promise her that he will never change and show more the tadpole asks the same of the caterpillar. Then one day the caterpillar meets the tadpole and he has two legs,and then later two arms, which I liked because it added an informational piece to this fantasy. Then when the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly and goes down to the pond the frog eats her! It could raise questions to readers because there was an act of apology and forgiveness throughout the story, but the ending gives the forgiveness no meaning because the frog goes and eats his "love". I would not recommend this book because children won't understand the irony. I did enjoy this book, but I didn't like the message it portrays. show less

In this book, a tadpole and a caterpillar meet, fall in love, and promise each other that they will never change. The tadpole begins to change into a frog, and the caterpillar gets mad because he has broken his promise. Then the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly and the frog unknowingly eats her. This is a little morbid for a kids book, but in a funny way, and a theme I see is that sometimes you can't prevent change.

Well this certainly had a surprise ending. Perhaps that's why the author and illustrator made the book landscape. It starts as a story of love between a tadpole and caterpillar and accepting the physical changes. I expected the ending to be beautiful as they both continued to love each other. I was unprepared for the frog to eat the butterfly. I would not read this to a young child but an older one would probably find this amusing. It is realistic instead of the usual happy ending.

This book is so sad you just have to laugh about it. It's like, "Oh no! Well, I guess that's just life." I don't think I could ever read it for storytime, but it's definitely entertaining.

In the book Tadpole's Promise a caterpillar and tadpole meet, fall in love and promise each other to never change. Both tadpoles and caterpillars have to change into a frog and caterpillar. When reading this book it is important to look at the pictures, they help tell the story. Once the tadpole breaks his promise three times the caterpillar gives up. The irony in the story is that the caterpillar turns into a butterfly and one day the frog eats the butterfly and then wonders where his long last love is. When the frog eats the butterfly neither one of them realize they were once the caterpillar and the tadpole. I think this book is good for all ages because it touches on change, love and the inevitable. This is one of my favorite books show more I have read so far. show less

Wow. this is a depressing book. The tadpole kills the love of his life. Sadly enough, I really enjoyed this book.