We Are the Wibbly!

PreS-Gr 2–In a charming stream of facts through a narrative lens, a reluctant tadpole learns that growing up can be a lot of work. Life in the Wibbly is peaceful, until it’s not, with changes crashing in. One moment, a tadpole is floating happily with their egg friends, and the next, everything is happening: tails appear, legs sprout, and suddenly, air-swimming is a thing. But what if a tadpole is not ready? Tagholm’s lively, childlike narration perfectly captures the emotional roller-coaster of metamorphosis, as the reluctant tadpole watches their friends transform at different speeds while cycling through curiosity, frustration, jealousy, and eventual triumph. The text’s playful, invented vocabulary (“spiked hunger-muncher”) and bouncy repetition (“OH MY CRIKEYS!”) create a delightful read-aloud rhythm, while the quirky font choice reflects the book’s spontaneous energy. Ink, mixed media, and digital illustrations brim with movement and humor. The pond’s murky greens and blues provide a lush backdrop for the protagonist, whose exaggerated expressions channel the book’s wry tone. Composition shifts, from quiet floating scenes to frantic bursts of movement, mirror the protagonist’s changing emotions. The frogs are cartoonish yet scientifically accurate, reinforcing the book’s underlying message: everyone develops at their own pace. A closing spread clearly outlines the real frog life cycle, grounding the story’s silliness in fact. A strong choice for early STEM collections and for any child navigating their own big changes.