Cover of The Mysterious Tadpole

The Mysterious Tadpole

by Steven Kellogg · 1977

+ Want to read

Louis's Scottish uncle brings him the birthday gift of a tadpole, plucked right out of Loch Ness. But it soon becomes clear that this "tadpole" is not turning into an ordinary frog! It'll take a little help from friends and a lot of ingenuity to feed and shelter this unusual, ever-growing pet.

Read more

The Mysterious Tadpole, with its giddy mix of fantasy, adventure, and high humor, is one of Steven Kellogg's most popular books. It was an ALA Notable, an IRA-CBC Children's Choice, and won the Irma Simonton Black Award. For its anniversary, Steven has reworked aspects of the story and has created entirely new artwork in the bright, bold colors that weren't reproducible twenty-five years ago. He discusses why he wanted to revise the book in a lively author's note.

Genre
fantasyfantasyMore like thisLess of thishumorhumorMore like thisLess of thisadventureadventureMore like thisLess of thisparanormalparanormalMore like thisLess of this
Themes
animalsanimalsMore like thisLess of thischildhoodchildhoodMore like thisLess of thisfriendshipfriendshipMore like thisLess of this
Setting
ScotlandScotlandMore like thisLess of this
Subject
sciencescienceMore like thisLess of this
Audience
childrenspicture books
Length
short · 40 pages

Click a tag to see books like this one that share it. Point at it (on a phone, tap it) for less of it instead.

Read it? Sign in to help tag it.

BuyAmazonGoogle Books

BorrowOpen LibraryA library near you

MoreCompare prices

Liked The Mysterious Tadpole? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked The Mysterious Tadpole. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. The Funny Thing Wanda Gag · 1929 Shares picture books, childrens, fantasy
  2. How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head Bill Peet · 1971 Shares picture books, childrens, fiction
  3. Charlie Needs a Cloak Tomie dePaola · 1973 Shares picture books, childrens, animals
  4. Elmer and the Kangaroo David McKee · 2000 Shares picture books, childrens, animals
See more recommendations →

“People who read The Mysterious Tadpole tend to reach for these next.”

  1. The House on East 88th Street Bernard Waber · 1962
  2. The Caterpillar and the Polliwog Jack Kent · 1982
  3. Anatole and the Cat Eve Titus · 1957
  4. Deep in the Forest Brinton Turkle · 1976

“If you want more of the same (fantasy about animals), start with these.”

  1. Wee Gillis Munro Leaf · 1938
  2. Always Room for One More Sorche Nic Leodhas · 1965
  3. The Loch Mess Monster Helen Lester · 2014
  4. One Perfect Day Walt Disney Company, Steve Purcell · 2012

“If it was the animals that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. This Way, Ruby! Jonathan Emmett · 2006
  2. Best Lowly Worm Book Ever! Richard Scarry · 2013
  3. The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! Mo Willems · 2008
  4. Some Swell Pup: Or, Are You Sure You Want a Dog? Maurice Sendak, Matthew Margolis · 1986

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. Moonbear's Pet Frank Asch · 1997
  2. The Teeny Weeny Tadpole Sheridan Cain · 2005
  3. Tadpoles and Frogs Anna Milbourne · 2002
  4. Little Frog's Tadpole Trouble Tatyana Feeney · 2014

Report a problem