Book Description
for Tadpole Rex by Kurt Cyrus
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
The cover image on this large-sized picture book shows a striking contrast between the huge Tyrannosaurus Rex with sharp claws and teeth and the small and slippery frog at its feet. Born in a puddle created by the dinosaur’s wet footprint, a tiny tadpole’s life begins. Observing the prehistoric beasts around and above him, the undeveloped amphibian waits for his young body, and ego, to grow. “Patience and time. That’s all it took. Suddenly Rex had a whole new look. Rex didn’t hide in the goop anymore. Out came his inner tyrannosaur!” Fantastic computer-generated illustrations, filled with lush plants and realistic reptilian textures, depict surprising comparisons of size and scale. Although Tadpole Rex has grown into a full-sized frog, he’s still just a speck in the eyes of the giant dinosaurs looming over him—yet his self-esteem is enormous as he imagines himself to be as fearsome as his neighbors. This highly visual and humorous tale will appeal to a range of children, including dinosaur lovers. The successful rhyming text is punctuated by effective use of onomatopoeia. A note from the author elaborates on the idea of an “inner tyrannosaur” and explains the existence of frogs in primordial times and the present. (Ages 3–8)
CCBC Choices 2009. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2009. Used with permission.