A tadpole (also pollywog or porwigle) is the larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog or toad. They are usually wholly aquatic, though some species have tadpoles that are terrestrial.

Tadpoles are young amphibians that usually live in the water, though some tadpoles may be terrestrial. During the tadpole stage of the amphibian life cycle, most respire by means of autonomous external or internal gills. They do not usually have arms or legs until the transition to adulthood, and typically have dorsal or fin-like appendages and a tail with which they swim by lateral undulation, similar to most fish.

As a tadpole matures, it most commonly metamorphosizes by gradually growing limbs (usually the legs first, followed by the arms) and then (most commonly in the case of frogs) outwardly absorbing its tail by apoptosis. Lungs develop around the time of leg development, and tadpoles late in development will often be found near the surface of the water, where they breathe air. During the final stages of external metamorphosis, the tadpole's mouth changes from a small, enclosed mouth at the front of the head to a large mouth the same width as the head. The intestines shorten to accommodate the new diet. Most tadpoles are herbivorous, subsisting on algae and plants. Some species are omnivorous, eating detritus and when available, smaller tadpoles.

Mr. Bean is a British comedy television programme series of 14 half-hour episodes written by and starring Rowan Atkinson as the title character. Different episodes were also written by Robin Driscoll, Richard Curtis and one by Ben Elton. The pilot episode was broadcast on ITV on 1 January 1990, with the last television episode, "Goodnight Mr. Bean" broadcast on 31 October 1995. The final episode, "Hair by Mr. Bean of London", was a video exclusive released on 15 November 1995, but not broadcast in the UK until 2006.

Based on a character originally developed by Atkinson while he was studying for his master's degree at Oxford University, the series follows the exploits of Mr. Bean, described by Atkinson as "a child in a grown man's body", in solving various problems presented by everyday tasks and often causing disruption in the process. Bean rarely speaks, and the largely physical humour of the series is derived from his interactions with other people and his unusual solutions to situations. The series was influenced by physical performers such as Jacques Tati and comic actors from silent films.

Jeanne Willis (born St Alban's, England) is an author of several children's books, including The Monster Bed (1986), the Dr. Xargle's Book of... series (1988–2004), and Shamanka (2007). Willis lives in London, England, with her husband and two children.

In Search of the Hidden Giant is one of her best books, with exquisite narrative and mystery.

Tony Ross (born London, 10 August 1938) is a British illustrator and author for children. He is most noted for his work with Francesca Simon on the Horrid Henry books, and has also illustrated the Harry The Poisonous Centipede and Dr. Xargle series of books. He has illustrated a lot of books and has also written some His most recent book was I Don't give a damn about this dumb toilet! He won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1986. He studied at the Liverpool School of Art and had many jobs, including a cartoonist.

The Little Princess is a series of books about a three or four year old princess and the phases that she goes through in life. The first book, titled 'I Want My Potty' was originally published in 1986, and included a 5 minute video from Anytime Tales narrated by Victoria Wood. Since then many other stories were published and adapted into a new series (appropriately titled Little Princess), featuring issues such as sibling rivalry, bad manners and attachment.