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The Pond
What can a kingfisher teach you about patience? What does a lotus know about strength?
A pond. Four seasons. One grandmother's wisdom. When Yuki arrives at her grandmother's house beside a pond in the country outside Yamanashi, Japan, she expects a quiet summer. What she finds is a living classroom. Woven through the lessons is the ancient philosophy of the the art of moving through the world like water. The Pond is a story about slowing down, paying attention, and finding that the natural world has always been trying to teach us, if only we sit long enough to listen.
A pond. Four seasons. One grandmother's wisdom. When Yuki arrives at her grandmother's house beside a pond in the country outside Yamanashi, Japan, she expects a quiet summer. What she finds is a living classroom. Woven through the lessons is the ancient philosophy of the the art of moving through the world like water. The Pond is a story about slowing down, paying attention, and finding that the natural world has always been trying to teach us, if only we sit long enough to listen.
91 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 18, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Raymond Gregory for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is available now.
Yuki spends the year with her grandmother, and learns about Tao through The Pond. She existences the pond change through the seasons and learns valuable lessons about life.
“Taoism offers something different: the idea that stillness is not laziness, that patience is a kind of strength, and that some of life‘s most important lessons cannot be learned by rushing.”
“Contentment comes not from perfect conditions, but from being perfectly yourself within whatever conditions exist.”
There are beautiful pictures throughout and the imagery created by the words is easy to imagine. Recommend for people who enjoy symbolism, appreciate Japanese Gardens and those of us who just want to slow down and appreciate nature.
Yuki spends the year with her grandmother, and learns about Tao through The Pond. She existences the pond change through the seasons and learns valuable lessons about life.
“Taoism offers something different: the idea that stillness is not laziness, that patience is a kind of strength, and that some of life‘s most important lessons cannot be learned by rushing.”
“Contentment comes not from perfect conditions, but from being perfectly yourself within whatever conditions exist.”
There are beautiful pictures throughout and the imagery created by the words is easy to imagine. Recommend for people who enjoy symbolism, appreciate Japanese Gardens and those of us who just want to slow down and appreciate nature.
July 2, 2026
This was a beautiful story that pays homage to Taoism. A young girl and her grandma spend time at the same pond at different times of day and different seasons to spend time observing nature. The narrative weaves beautiful Taoism proverbs together in a magical way. I really enjoyed the illustrations and the animals. This story just flows so well.
September 22, 2026
The Pond is meant to be a young reader's introduction to Taoism via the conduit of Yuki amd her guided trips to a pond at her Grandma's throughout multiple seasons and times of day.
Readers will find a rather lengthy introduction to what is Taoism, its history and also why this particular story was chosen to teach it. Furthermore it also explains why young readers should be taught Taosim as a lifestyle rather than as a religion. To keep with its informative presence the book sprinkles Japanese words throughout its telling and welcomes readers to each chapter with a verse from the Tao Te Ching itself based on the chapter's subject.
The concepts are presented rather clearly and simply but rather repetitively. And any other complaints have are just in the portrayal of Tao when it comes to its point. The cicada is portrayed as just being and not seeking anything as it sings although its song is clearly meant to look for a partner.
The book has some gorgeously done illustrations but given the captions underneath, ii is clearly AI. As a result there are some issues where the time of date doesn't match the illustrations background and an entry on a mandarin duck couple shows two male ducks instead of a male and female. This is fortunately rectified later on.
And my final hangup on the book was the book dumps its reader into the story and experience right away. Although not necessary to the story and its information I did wonder where Yuki's parents were and why she was being introduced to the Tao at this moment. Plus nowhere in the whole tale are we provided family information although the book did make a point to say Yuki did fight with her friends so she isn't a recluse. Because really you could give us an Afterword but not return us to the source?
All in all it makes for an interesting multicultural read although one that should be taken with a grain of salt.
***I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Readers will find a rather lengthy introduction to what is Taoism, its history and also why this particular story was chosen to teach it. Furthermore it also explains why young readers should be taught Taosim as a lifestyle rather than as a religion. To keep with its informative presence the book sprinkles Japanese words throughout its telling and welcomes readers to each chapter with a verse from the Tao Te Ching itself based on the chapter's subject.
The concepts are presented rather clearly and simply but rather repetitively. And any other complaints have are just in the portrayal of Tao when it comes to its point. The cicada is portrayed as just being and not seeking anything as it sings although its song is clearly meant to look for a partner.
The book has some gorgeously done illustrations but given the captions underneath, ii is clearly AI. As a result there are some issues where the time of date doesn't match the illustrations background and an entry on a mandarin duck couple shows two male ducks instead of a male and female. This is fortunately rectified later on.
And my final hangup on the book was the book dumps its reader into the story and experience right away. Although not necessary to the story and its information I did wonder where Yuki's parents were and why she was being introduced to the Tao at this moment. Plus nowhere in the whole tale are we provided family information although the book did make a point to say Yuki did fight with her friends so she isn't a recluse. Because really you could give us an Afterword but not return us to the source?
All in all it makes for an interesting multicultural read although one that should be taken with a grain of salt.
***I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
May 30, 2026
The Pond felt like slipping into a quiet moment with my own family — the kind where everyone leans a little closer, the world slows down, and a story becomes something you feel as much as you read.
What stayed with us most was how beautifully it mirrors the way we try to move through life at home: noticing small wonders, talking through big feelings, and learning to breathe with whatever season we’re in. Yuki and her grandmother felt so familiar — that gentle, steady presence guiding a curious child through the world. It reminded me of the way we walk our own kids through questions, worries, and discoveries.
The art is absolutely captivating. Every page felt like an invitation to pause — to trace the water, the creatures, the shifting colors — and just be there for a moment. It’s the kind of artwork that pulls you in and makes you want to linger.
And learning about Taoist ideas together was such a gift. The way the book talks about flowing like water, finding the natural path, and embracing change sparked real conversations in our home about how we handle frustration, how we soften instead of push, and how we look for beauty even in things we don’t understand yet. It made the philosophy feel not ancient, but alive — something we could carry into our everyday moments.
This book didn’t just teach us something; it gave us a feeling. A calm one. A connected one. The kind you want to tuck away and return to whenever life gets a little too loud.
What stayed with us most was how beautifully it mirrors the way we try to move through life at home: noticing small wonders, talking through big feelings, and learning to breathe with whatever season we’re in. Yuki and her grandmother felt so familiar — that gentle, steady presence guiding a curious child through the world. It reminded me of the way we walk our own kids through questions, worries, and discoveries.
The art is absolutely captivating. Every page felt like an invitation to pause — to trace the water, the creatures, the shifting colors — and just be there for a moment. It’s the kind of artwork that pulls you in and makes you want to linger.
And learning about Taoist ideas together was such a gift. The way the book talks about flowing like water, finding the natural path, and embracing change sparked real conversations in our home about how we handle frustration, how we soften instead of push, and how we look for beauty even in things we don’t understand yet. It made the philosophy feel not ancient, but alive — something we could carry into our everyday moments.
This book didn’t just teach us something; it gave us a feeling. A calm one. A connected one. The kind you want to tuck away and return to whenever life gets a little too loud.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews