Life in a Pond

Children's Literature

As part of the "Ecosystems" series, this book educates the reader on the unique habitat of ponds. Although there is no scientific definition for a pond, it is agreed that all ponds have the following characteristics: a space less than ten acres, fresh water, a water depth between four and fifteen feet, a uniformed water temperature, and no official name. Ponds have their own lifecycle, as they are born from rivers, glaciers, and natural dams, live up to one hundred years, and then die. During their life, they are home to many different creatures and plants. The most important of these is algae. It soaks up energy provided by the sun and converts it to food and oxygen. Without algae, pond life would be nonexistent. Readers will learn about the specific zones in a pond and their unique characteristics. Because ponds, as a whole, are not tracked by environmentalists, there is no official record of their survival rate. However, readers will glean enough information to deduct that chemicals, pesticides, and construction pose as significant threats to existing ponds throughout the world. Photographs accompany almost every page and glossary, index, and resource sections are provided. This is a suitable resource for strong readers and avid environmentalists. Those living or going to school near a natural pond will benefit from its information and perhaps be inspired to create a "pond project" of their own. 2004, KidHaven Press, Ages 9 to 14.
—Andrea Sears Andrews