Tadpole's Promise

Willis, J. (2005). Tadpole's Promise. N.p.: Atheneum Books.

Tadpole's promise is a children's book that is slightly loving and slightly shocking. The premise of the story is about a tadpole that promises a caterpillar that it would never change; and sure enough the Tadpole changes as it grows legs and arms and eventually turns into a frog. The caterpillar leaves the tadpole as she tells the tadpole that he lied to her too many times. The caterpillar turns into a butterfly and sets out to find her "shiny black pearl" - the tadpole. The frog, however, sticks out his great big tongue and eats the butterfly up. The end of the book demonstrates that the frog still misses his caterpillar and wonders where she is. 

This book could be used as a high quality literature depending on the context it is used in. For example, this book could be used as a preface to a life cycle science class in demonstrating the changes and food chain mechanisms that occur within the animal kingdom. This book could also be used as a moral lesson in teaching children to be careful what kind of promises they make- and about how things change and we cannot expect them to stay the same.

My personal reaction to this text was at first exciting, and then later disappointing. I did not expect the book to turn out the way it did. I don't believe the book has much value in the cheerfulness aisle, but it does teach a general life lesson. As a writer, however, I think the work is well written and follows a linear pattern. 

Reading Lexile Level: AD400L- This type of reading lexile means that it is recommended that an adult reads this book to a child because of the complex ideas and understandings behind the book.

Target Audience: 3rd-6th grade

Literary Elements 

Tone: Reader feels a bit sad/awestruck/surprised/confused

Setting: Underwater and above ground on the land 

Conflict: Two animals promise each other something that is unattainable