Author: Ken Kimura
Illustrator: Yasunari Murakami
Publisher: Gecko Press, $15.99 RRP
Publication date: August 2010
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781877467271
For ages: 6+
Type: Picture Books
About: What is it about Japanese books? I really am quite obsessed with them. The concepts, the illustrations, the format - always so artistically mind-boggling and creative and beautiful. They are also, most often than not, based on very simple concepts.
In 999 Tadpoles Find a New Home, we rejoin the tadpoles from Kimura's first book (999 Tadpoles) as they grow into little froglings, ready to enter the world. Getting far too big for their pond, the froglings must search for new digs... and on the way, they realise just how vulnerable they are.
When a hawk swoops down to grab hold of father frog, mother frog and 999 froglings (count them all) cling to each other for dear life, forming a long green trail from the hawk's talons. When the frogs become too much for the hawk to hold, he lets go and 101 green spots fall from the sky...
What will happen to our little green friends?
Despite being a teensy bit text heavy, this is one of those books that just gets away with it - the text is rhythmic, flows well and is a pleasure to read. The kids will love the dialogue between the froglings.
This book is just too cute. Beautifully styled, with glorious illustrations, it's all about fun, togetherness - and finding home.