Over and Under the Pond

Written by Kate Messner · Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Book #3 in the Over and Under series

A mother and child explore the world above and below a pond.

5.6/7 Bookroo experts·4.2/5 Goodreads · 2,633 ratings

48 pages· 441 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud

$19.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Explore the enchanting world of a mountain pond with a young adventurer. Above, the water mirrors the sky, but below lies a secret realm of darting minnows, diving beavers, and growing tadpoles. What other wonders await beneath the surface? This beautifully illustrated journey invites young readers to uncover the mysteries of nature and inspires a lifelong love for the environment. Dive into this captivating ecosystem and see what secrets you can find over and under the pond.

From the publisher

In this gorgeous companion to the acclaimed Over and Under the Snow and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal bring to life a secret underwater world. In this book, readers will discover the plants and animals that make up the rich, interconnected ecosystem of a mountain pond. Over the pond, the water is a mirror, reflecting the sky. But under the pond is a hidden world of minnows darting, beavers diving, tadpoles growing. These and many other secrets are waiting to be discovered…over and under the pond.

At a glance

Format
Pages: 48
Words: 441
Reading age: 5–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: AD660L

Themes & topics

Books about water Books about animals Books about science Books about environmental science and ecosystems Books about science and nature

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.6

out of 7

5.0

“This book walks the line between fiction and non-fiction in a way that is perfect for reading and learning with little ones. The illustrations are darling and make the book feel like it has a narrative; the over and under concept likewise makes it very approachable. At the same time, it provides a lot of concrete information about the animals that live in and around a pond. It's informative, but brief enough and cute enough to be very readable, even for toddlers. We used it for a preschool lesson and it was a hit!”

Lauren Hancock

Trusted reviewer

6.3

“Kate Messner's Over and Under the Pond is a beautiful, literary introduction to the biology and ecology of life in and around a pond. A boy and his mother explore and discover the pond's many wonders as they row slowly around the pond. They are quiet observers, not disturbing the wildlife they see. The language and pace of the book are lovely and mirror the slow and quiet exploration of the pond. This and books like it, inspire us to be observers of our own environments.”

Grammy

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one