The cover image on this large-sized picture book shows a striking contrast between the huge Tyrannosaurus Rex with sharp claws and teeth and the small and slippery frog at its feet. Born in a puddle created by the dinosaur’s wet footprint, a tiny tadpole’s life begins. Observing the prehistoric beasts around and above him, the undeveloped amphibian waits for his young body, and ego, to grow. “Patience and time. That’s all it took. Suddenly Rex had a whole new look. Rex didn’t hide in the goop anymore. Out came his inner tyrannosaur!” Fantastic computer-generated illustrations, filled with lush plants and realistic reptilian textures, depict surprising comparisons of size and scale. Although Tadpole Rex has grown into a full-sized frog, he’s still just a speck in the eyes of the giant dinosaurs looming over him—yet his self-esteem is enormous as he imagines himself to be as fearsome as his neighbors. This highly visual and humorous tale will appeal to a range of children, including dinosaur lovers. The successful rhyming text is punctuated by effective use of onomatopoeia. A note from the author elaborates on the idea of an “inner tyrannosaur” and explains the existence of frogs in primordial times and the present. (Ages 3–8)

Rex is a tiny tadpole who can't wait to grow up and be big like everybody else. Unfortunately for Rex, he lives in a prehistoric swamp . . . and everybody else is a gigantic dinosaur. With a little time--and a lot of patience--Rex does grow, gaining arms and legs and, most importantly, a personality big enough to take on even the mightiest of his neighbors. Includes a note from the author about metamorphosis, prehistoric frogs, and the environmental challenges frogs face today.