Tully the Tadpole
(Who Never Became a Toad)
Available in Special Edition Hardcover (Website Exclusive), Paperback, and eBook!
Join Tully, a cheerful tadpole, on an exciting adventure! Tully’s whole life has been spent swimming happily in their cozy pond. But things start changing when Tully’s pals turn into toads and hop on land. Tully feels scared and unsure if they’re ready for that big leap. Although loneliness sometimes creeps in, Tully stays positive and embraces their own specialness. As Tully keeps growing, they discover amazing talents of their own, and they learn that they don’t have to be like anyone else—they’re already perfect just being themselves!
With delightful pictures and an inclusive message, “Tully the Tadpole” teaches kids to stay true to themselves, no matter what comes their way. It shows that our differences make us unique and embracing who we are brings true happiness. So, come along with Tully and let yourself shine as the magnificent “you” you were born to be!
You’ll also find educational “Tadpole Tidbits” throughout the story, as well as reading comprehension questions at the end!
reviews
“I just read this to my daughter and she loved it. The illustrations are enchanting and the message and pacing is perfect for her, especially as she is learning to read and entering school. I loved the educational tidbits printed at the bottom of some pages. Kids often ask questions during books about what does this animal do or what about that, and having that additional information was a great idea. Overall, the kids greatly enjoyed this book and I as a parent really appreciated the message.”
Jenny M.
“What a cute book cover! It really catches a child’s eye.
Some great lessons within this little book. Letting children know that no matter what, they should stay true to themselves and that their differences are what make them unique. Celebrating our differences is a great lesson to learn at an early age and they can carry that message with them throughout life!!”
Kitty B.
“The illustrations in this book were downright adorable. My mom is an elementary school library[sic] and she would love to have this in her library. I will definitely be purchasing a copy for her and my friends with children. I can’t wait to share this story with them.”
Emily G.
“In “Tully the Tadpole”, Tully sees all the other tadpoles changing shape into something else…but Tully’s not so sure that that’s the only option for the future.
Simple but lush illustrations punctuate this rhyming tale-about-a-tail (or something like that) as Tully accepts that, sometimes…a tadpole is just different, and that’s okay. It’s a wonderfully versatile story: Tully is different from the other tadpoles, but how that difference corresponds to human differences is largely up to the reader’s imagination. This could be a story about gender, or about disability, or about something else entirely—the bigger point is that Tully never loses sight of who Tully is. A lovely, understated story for young readers..”
Catriona M.
about the author
A.M. Ruggirello
Ash (who writes as “A.M.”) wears many hats, though she favors the dark gray cable knit beanie from Amazon, most. A descendant of Romanian immigrants, she grew up in a family that fostered all forms of creation, the guiding force which led her towards her careers as an author & blogger, book designer & graphic artist, and certified nutrition & lifestyle coach.
She lives in Beer & Cheese Land, Wisconsin with her real-life superhero husband, two rambunctious sons, a dog named Dennis, and an “I’m allergic to myself” cat.
Ash’s fiction is represented by the amazing Mandy Hubbard of Emerald City Literary Agency.
about the illustrator
Alexis Madau
Alexis is a multimedia painting and digital illustration artist living in Milwaukee, WI. Her passion over the past years has evolved to focus on female empowerment and supporting women through her artwork. She is the proud aunty to her little nephews, who inspired her unique illustrations for Tully!