Down by the River

by Tricia Gardella, Kristin Abbott (illustrator)

Down by the River invites children to explore the wonders of rivers and streams. From splashing fish and curious otters to colorful butterflies and chirping birds, there’s always something exciting happening along the water's edge.

As you journey down the river,

Where does a river begin?What animals and plants call it home?Who uses the river, and for what?Where does the river’s journey end?
Every twist and turn of the river offers new surprises, making each reading an adventure. With vibrant illustrations and engaging text, this interactive book encourages young readers to learn about geography, wildlife, and the many ways both nature and people use rivers.

Topics and

Wildlife & Nature Meet the animals that thrive in rivers and streams, from playful otters to darting fish.Geography & Follow the river’s journey across different landscapes, learning how it shapes and nourishes the world.Environmental Understand the importance of rivers in our ecosystem and the need to protect these vital waterways.
Perfect for classroom learning and bedtime stories, Down by the River is an enchanting journey that will captivate young minds and inspire curiosity about the natural world. It’s a must-read for any young explorer who loves to ask questions and discover the secrets of nature.

Genres: Childrens, Family

Kindle Edition

Published August 13, 2024

Reviews

[Trina Bagley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book of what happens in and around rivers and streams. It shows the importance of these water ways. This story is inviting everybody to come and see the beauty that the rivers and streams hold. The spotted trout are chasing minnows while the eagles dive down to find their next meal. The boaters and swimmers enjoy their time in the water and hikers take strolls over the little bridges to enjoy the sights.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down by the River is a beautiful children's book filled with animals, insects, and activities that are unique to the rivers. The illustrations are stunning. I think children will enjoy this one and take delight in looking at the specific items written on each page. Great book for kids.

[Carolyn Vandine West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was cute and colorful. Not the typical picture book, I liked the slight dip into several subjects not often covered in kids books.
Can’t wait to share with my grandchildren.
I won an ecopy of this book on Goodreads. This did not affect my honest review.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
EDITORIAL REVEW
14th October 2024
TITLE: Down by the River
AUTHOR: Tricia Gardella

Star Rating: 5

‘A superbly illustrated picture book celebrating the river and everything that happens over it, under it, and around it. Highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf

REVIEW
This picture book is very much a celebration of rivers, and what happens over them, under them, and around them. Vibrantly illustrated by Kristin MacLaren-Abbott, the book offers young children an insight into the animals who play there - otters, bullfrogs and geese, the birds who fly over them and the fish who swim in them. The book is not very long, written in simple rhyme, with excellent (and consistent) rhythm.
Having been an infant schoolteacher for many years, I very much welcome the simplicity of this book. The author's not trying to do too much, and the message is loud and clear - the river is a wonderful thing, important to everybody (and animals too), and must be protected. But it's not the writing that impressed me the most, it’s the truly amazing illustrations. They have such a classic feel to them, the colours so warm and inviting. I suspect most children (and adults) will very much enjoy exploring them, and seeing new things every time.
I'm happy to recommend this book to any grandparent, parent or school looking for a stimulating ‘nature’ book. I think even the most agitated of children will find this story calming, and will be impressed by the sweetness of the otters, the power of the waterfall, and the startling way the light flickers through the river, shining a light on the tiny minnows escaping the spotted trout.
All in all, a wonderful read!

A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Down By The River" by Tricia Gardella is a delightful addition to children's literature that invites young explorers to partake in a whimsical journey through the wonders of rivers and streams. With each turn of the page, children are greeted by vibrant illustrations that leap to life and engaging text that makes learning feel like an exciting adventure.

The book effectively addresses essential questions that pique the curiosity of young minds: Where does a river begin? What flora and fauna inhabit its banks? Who relies on this natural resource, and how? These thought-provoking prompts guide readers through understanding not only the cyclical journey of a river but also the intricate ecosystem it fosters.

Gardella’s ability to blend wildlife exploration, geographical education, and environmental awareness is commendable. Children will encounter playful otters and darting fish, helping to instill a connection to the natural world while nurturing an understanding of the ecological significance of waterways. The interactive nature of the book encourages thoughtful questions, making it an ideal resource for classrooms and bedtime stories alike.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Where does a river begin? What animals and plants call it home? Who uses the river, and for what? Where does the river’s journey end?
Every twist and turn of the river offers new surprises, making each reading an adventure. With vibrant illustrations and engaging text, this interactive book encourages young readers to learn about geography, wildlife, and the many ways both nature and people use rivers.

Down By the River by Tricia Gardella is a wonderful little story that fires the imagination- sparking curiosity about nature- with lovely illustrations are very cute, colourful, and engaging- which made this little adventure come to life.
The story encourages children to learn as they explore nature, rivers, and streams- while delivering environmental messages, wildlife & nature facts, explaining geography, and encouraging young explorers to be curious.
A great little read!
Highly recommended.
Looking forward to whatever Tricia Gardella brings us next.
Happy Reading!

[Jaimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down by the River is an adorable book that teaches kids a little bit about rivers and what is in and around them. You get to explore this river as you read the book. You will see animals above, fish below, and people all around. The illustrations are wonderful and fit the story so well. This book shows how the river is used in different way by both animals and humans. Great way to get kids interested in wildlife and nature. This book can open up other conversations about nature and caring for it as well. I would defiantly recommend this book to younger readers. Great for first libraries and bedtime stories.

[Shannen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kiddos and I have read several books by this author and for good reason! They always craft such creative and engaging storytelling with each new adventure. This one in particular has become one of our favorites with the absolutely gorgeous illustrations that blew us away. The rhythm of all the rhyming words had us bopping along as we learned everything about the river. The author entertains us as they educate about the animals near the river and how people enjoy it for recreation as well as depend on it for various reasons. I can’t recommend this highly enough, it will make a great addition to your library!

[Tausha Treadway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down By The River by Tricia Gardella . This is such a gorgeous book with its illustrations of streams and rivers. It a great kids book to teach them about streams and rivers and how important they are to humans and animals. It teaches that we all get water from them in more ways than one and that we can also get food from them. It also teaches kids the importance of rivers and streams as a whole to the world. With its beautiful pictures it grabs kids attention and helps them realize how important they are to our world. My 6 year old nephew loved this book and it would make a great gift for the youngster in your life. This author is becoming one of our favorite children's authors.

[Dawn Daughenbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
Down By The River by Tricia Gardella

Down By The River is a wonderfully written children’s book that children of any age can enjoy. My six year old son got very excited as I started reading. He even said this book was written for him. He loves being outside and exploring all the things that revolve around being outside, water, rocks. The illustrations were very colorful and helped bring the story to life. Get ready to be taken on quite the journey with different different animals, bugs,and so much more. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. I’m looking forward to reading more from this Author.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Down By The River" is a delightful story that promotes learning and appreciation for nature and wildlife in a river setting. The charming illustrations are vibrant and truly bring the story to life, igniting young imaginations.
Embark on this exciting adventure, discovering and learning about the wonders found along the way. "Down By The River" is thoroughly enjoyable and captivating. My grandsons adored it, and now we're planning an outing to explore a nearby river.
This wonderful picture book would be a fantastic addition to any library, home, school, or as a thoughtful gift.

[Kerry Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a brilliantly fun children’s book, and is one I never would have guessed we needed. Taking what could be a relatively boring topic (rivers and streams), the author has created a lovely and engaging story that is perfect for kids. It allows them to learn a bit more about them in an exciting way, with some gorgeous illustrations to go along with the story.
I thought this book really played perfectly into a kids intuitive nature. It encouraged them to ask how and why and to learn something new. I thought this was a fantastic book and another hit from this author.

[Tara Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down By The River is a cute and entertaining little story that teaches children about nature and wildlife. The story follows the twists and turns of the river as it flows and follows the adventures it takes along the way. Children will learn about fish, birds, butterflies, otters, and different landscapes that shape our ecosystem. This delightful story is told in rhymes which makes it engaging for children of all ages. The bright and colorful illustrations help make the story pop off the page and really bring the story to life. A great addition to any children’s library.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book with engaging rhymes and cute illustrations. Each page flowed perfectly into the next. The illustrations brought the words to life beautifully. I read it with my 4-year-old nephew, and he really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend it for bedtime reading and beginning readers. It would also make a good addition to any library's Story Time rotation.

*I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest interview. I want to thank the publisher, author, and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to enjoy this book!

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Quiet Celebration of Nature, Curiosity, and Togetherness

Down By The River is a beautifully crafted picture book that introduces young readers to the vibrant world that exists along a river’s edge. Written by Tricia Gardella and illustrated by Kristin Abbott, the book takes readers on a quiet, observant walk - not through the eyes of a character, but through the landscape itself.

The text is rich with questions and sensory details that gently encourage readers to notice, wonder, and imagine. From mossy rocks and darting minnows to buzzing insects and whispering grasses, every page offers a new detail to discover. There’s no storyline in the traditional sense but instead, the book flows like a river, inviting children to pause and appreciate the small, interconnected pieces of a living ecosystem.

Kristin Abbott’s illustrations are soft and detailed, with a classic naturalist feel. Her art complements the calm, inquisitive tone of the text, offering plenty of quiet beauty without overwhelming the reader. The book’s layout and pacing create a sense of stillness and exploration, perfect for bedtime or a classroom nature unit.

This book is ideal for children aged 5–9, particularly those who are just beginning to explore the natural world around them. Down By The River encourages mindfulness, observation, and a love of the outdoors - no gadgets, no rush, just the quiet joy of discovering what’s right in front of us.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this kids story. The cadence and rhythm of the words is so soothing and calming and the book is also educational. In this book we follow the river and get to see all of the animals that call the river home, as well as how a river can help people and the environment. But I think my favorite thing about this book is the illustrations. They are breathtakingly beautiful, realistic, and cozy. This is definitely one you'll want to add to your bookshelf.

[Britney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The imagery in this book is gorgeous. My two girls are 9 and 7 and we read the book before bedtime. They said they love the pictures and that they have more things to look up and study. They said it helped them really see that many different animals make their homes around a stream. They’re now asking if the author wrote about deserts, mountains, oceans, and jungles in the same way.
All three of us gave this book 5 stars!

[Ashley Schoen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a homeschooling parent, I am always on the lookout for easy reads that are educational and interesting for my 7 year old daughter to read aloud at bedtime. Down By the River is both of these things and more.

The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and help bring the story alive, and also help with identification!

It's an easy read for young readers, as well as for parents reading to little ones before bedtime.

All in all, we both gave it 5 stars!

[Micalah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down by the River is an engaging, beautifully illustrated children’s book that offers a in depth look into our rivers, all the things you see in them, and what all is around them. I liked how the story flowed smoothly, rhymed, and how it brought up things for my kids to question, research, and test. This author writes books that myself and my family enjoy reading and Down by the River was no exception.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down by the River is a children's book that has colorful full page illustrations. The rhyming makes it flow well, and it teaches children all sorts of animals. I like that the book is specific, it's not just fish, it's minnows and trout. It also does a good job of showing how the water is all connected, from the river, to the stream, to the lake, to the bay. So there is a little learning along with a fun easy going read.

[Carrie Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down by the River is a delightful children's book that takes young readers on a captivating journey along a winding river. With vibrant illustrations and engaging text, the book explores the diverse ecosystem and human activities surrounding this natural waterway. From playful otters and darting fish to canoeing families and riverside picnics, the book highlights the beauty and importance of rivers. It's a perfect choice for sparking curiosity about nature and encouraging a love for reading.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story! The best part is that the rhyming story has some themes that it's teachin you read this to your child or as they read it. It's got a wonderful rhythm to it. The nature scenes are beautiful. It teaches of environmental awareness and a couple other items. It's a very well done story that helps bring science to children. A beautifully done book.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artwork in this book is absolutely beautiful, the details really had me lost in a new world. I really like that the wording changes throughout the book starting with down by the river, down in the river and so on ending with along the river, showcasing the different life and movement surrounding or in the river. The otter and seals at the end were so sweet.

[Enchanted Owl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic short children’s book exploring nature. This is an amazing 5 min read with excellent illustrations throughout. I really love the way Tricia Gardella pulls from experience in her own life with children, grandchildren and such to write her books. Showing children what all they can find when exploring nature is really great. Definitely worth a read before bedtime with little ones.

[Kelli Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down by the River is a very cute story about the things that happen in and around the river. The catchy rhythm of the words with the rhyming and the repetitive words will have your child chanting along. The illustrations are vibrant and will have you looking for the items described in the text. Very cool book.

[Arianna Westmoreland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my two sons - D (age 6) and S (age 3). This book had my boys asking lots of questions and wanting to learn more about the animals/fish that live in rivers.

A review from an actual kid:
D (age 6) - ”Lots of different fish live in the river.”
S (age 3) - “Fishies splash when they jump in the river.”

We gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

[Felicia Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down by the River is a well written children’s book that reads very quickly. The illustrations are gorgeous and the story flows very well. No pun intended. I enjoyed that we learned about the animals and activities that happen by the river while learning positional vocabulary too. Overall, it was a well thought out children’s book!

[Krystal Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down by the river by Tricia Gardella - 5 Stars

This is a cute outdoorsy book for little ones! Perfect for those adventurers of the surroundings of rivers and the uniqueness of what’s in them, around them and where they flow. The illustrations by Kristin MacLaren-Abbot are absolutely beautiful and capture your attention with the story!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part of this book was the illustrations. They are very colorful and well done! The story is a good one, that focuses on the nature surrounding the river. It has a rhythm throughout with the wording that will make it a fun read. Use this book to teach new words and about environmental awareness!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down by the River by Tricia Gardella
4 stars
This is a cute book. Very different from what I would normally read. However, that being, said I can see it being very educational for children. It's almost like a poem set to illustration. The pictures are beautiful, and the descriptions are worded wonderfully. I read it to my daughter she loved it.