What's in the Pond?

What would you see if you sat at the edge of a pond and looked into the water? In this hand-size book, Anne Hunter illustrates in loving detail the creatures that live in and around a pond-a water strider, a tadpole, a red-winged blackbird, a painted turtle, and more. Each illustration is accompanied by simple yet detailed text describing the animal's characteristics and habits. Young readers can put this book into a pocket or a backpack and take it with them to the pond. The artwork and simple sense of wonder will inspire children to explore their environment. What's Under the Log? is the perfect accompaniment.

Describes a variety of pond animals, including the mayfly, red-winged blackbird, and painted turtle.

What would you see if you sat at the edge of a pond and looked into the water? In this hand-size book, Anne Hunter illustrates in loving detail the creatures that live in and around a pond-a water strider, a tadpole, a red-winged blackbird, a painted turtle, and more. Each illustration is accompanied by simple yet detailed text describing the animal's characteristics and habits. Young readers can put this book into a pocket or a backpack and take it with them to the pond. The artwork and simple sense of wonder will inspire children to explore their environment. What's Under the Log? is the perfect accompaniment.

Children's Literature

This small, square, easily held book brings Beatrix Potter to mind--or Tasha Tudor. It attempts to answer the question posed in the title through a brief text and simple, but lovely watercolor illustrations. A young child's experience at a pond with an adult and this book in hand might eventually lead to a lifelong interest, even to a career. Each creature is introduced separately. The text tells the reader the facts of its life cycle, habitat, food and size. Then it is on to the next insect, fish, bird, reptile, amphibian or mammal. This structure seems abrupt. Splitting the concluding paragraph would help. The first two sentences would make an excellent introduction and the last three sentences would make a satisfying wrap. The final suggestion to look at pond water through a magnifying glass could send a young reader on a lifelong journey.

Anne Hunter lives on a farm in Vermont. Since attending Earlham College and graduating from the University of the Arts, she has worked full-time as an illustrator, well-known for her nature illustrations. Hunter has written and illustrated many children’s books, including Possum's Harvest Moon.