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.

What Kind of Book is Over and Under the Pond

Topics

water animals science environmental science and ecosystems science and nature lakes and ponds ecology wildlife environmentalism nature pond life parent-child relationships

Genres

nonfiction

Reviews

Lauren Hancock

5.00

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!

Grammy

6.25

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.

Book Lists That Include This Book

Books about animals

Books about science

Books about water

The Creatives Behind the Book

Author

Kate Messner

Kate Messner is the award-winning author of Over and Under the Snow, Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, Over and Under the Pond, Tree of Wonder, and How to Read a Story, as well as more than a dozen other books for young readers. Kate lives on Lake Champlain in New York

Illustrator

Christopher Silas Neal

Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning author and illustrator of picture books including Over and Under the Snow with author Kate Messner, which was praised for its “stunning retro-style illustrations” (New York Times) along with Over and Under The Pond and Up In the Garden and Down in The Dirt. Neal’s author debut titled “Everyone” was praised by Publisher’s Weekly as “simple, honest, lyrical”. His board book series (Animals Colors, Animal Shapes) received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus. He creates book jackets, art for magazines and posters. He speaks about his books, the art making process, and his career at schools, conferences, libraries and book festivals across the country. He lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.