Scoot!

by Cathryn Falwell

While their neighbors in the pond . . . leap! lurch! scamper! and splash! six silent turtles sit still as stones. Will the turtles ever move? Read this book and find out. What are you waiting for? Scoot!

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Fiction, Nature, Summer

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2008

Reviews

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very simple kids’ book.

[Rachel Olive · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Scoot! by Cathryn Falwell is set in a pound and describes the animals you find there. This book begins with six silent turtles and from there brings in all the other animals you find around this pond. It goes through sounds they would make, yet the six silent turtles wouldn't budge. They then moved on to the animals in the woods around the pond and showed their chaoticness and still the turtles wouldn't budge. It wasn't until the wind started blowing real hard that finally got the turtles moving.

Analysis: This is a fun book. It is a short read with minimal words on each page. Each page consisted of some onomatopoeia that really brought the book to life. The illustrations filled the pages with color which made it feel real. All the different animals introduced was a great concept. I loved how it wasn't until the wind came that they moved.

How I would use this book: This could be a great book if you are learning about animals, ecosystems, or even figurative language. This book is definitely more geared to younger children or children at a lower reading level. Although it would still be fun to read when you are older.

[Reade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scoot is a story starting off with 6 turtles sitting steady on a log in a pond. The story goes on with different animals and insects around a pond going crazy and moving around. Eventually the turtles dash off in the pond and are off.
3 book topic ideas
1.) This is a good book for the students to learn about all the animals and insects in this book.
2.) This book has a lot of rhymes in it and students could write their own rhymes after reading the book.
3.) Students could write their own stories about their favorite animals.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, attractive, fun-to-read title. I didn't care for the way the eventual turtle movement felt in my mouth when I read it aloud, though. It didn't seem to flow right. So I didn't end up using this one for storytime. Still, it's a cute book.

[Mariela Ruschak · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Scoot" is a short story I think would get children's attention. It had great illustrations, full of colors, and nature. Children would be drawn to the small animals. Easy way for children to think about what they would hear and see while watching wild animals play.

[Jared White · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very busy book but the text isn't overwhelming. For those who live or get to visit around ponds (at least in the southern east of the US), this book could be especially fun because they will probably recognize many of the creatures contained in its pages.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really cute

[Kristy Thayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the paper art

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is delightful! It's fun to read, the illustrations are gorgeous, and the backmatter is interesting. It's a simple story, yet powerful words make it come alive.

[Christopher Lepage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great language and info with activities at the end

[Sassafras · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book to teach figurative language to my 8th grade language classes! Examples of: onomatopoeia, rhyme, alliteration, assonance, and repetition!

[Nancy O'Toole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scoot tells the story of a small pond filled with life, and six turtles that remain still. It's not until the wind picks up that the six turtles are forced to move away. Fallwell use of collages brings a unique texture to the story that gives the animals a lifelike quality. Readers may be surprised that when they touch the textured pieces that it still feels smooth. The author uses repetition to tell the story of the turtles, focusing on the life and liveliness of the other animals, but always returning to the six silent turtles. The black text is places directly over the illustrations and the author occasionally uses fun fonts to emphasize the meanings of certain words like “flutter!” In the back of the book is information on the author's personal experience with animals at her tree house. There is also a quick guide as to how to make certain textures using every day items like tree bark. This should entertain children interested in crafts.
Recommended Grade Level- Pre-K
Notes- Scoot! Is a perfect book for a joint storytime and craft session. Children can use construction paper to create collages, or create textures using the examples on the back of the book.
(This review was written as part of a school assignment)

[Samantha Van]

Title: Scoot
Author: Cathryn Falwell

Artistic Media Used: Collage

A Brief Summary: This book is about 6 little turtles on a log. These turtles are quiet and motionless. All the animals are moving around these turtles. The waves pick up and then the turtles finally move. They move quickly away from the waves.

Analysis of Art
Texture: The reader can tell that the pictures are made out of paper. Especially the trees and landscaping, you almost wish you could touch it.
Color: The story is very colorful. Each animal uses at least 4-5 colors. This aspect will get the attention of the younger generation.
The book casing and jacket have the same picture.

I would use this in my classroom for individual reading and for art projects. Different stamping ideas and techniques are located in the back of the book. This book could be used to transition into a discussion about the environment or science observation.

[Melissa Dwyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally rated G+ By Lucy Thomas
Large, simple rhyming text is enhanced by the colorful and detailed paper collage art illustrations. Following the story, the book incorporates the use of science and art. From her tree house at Frog Song Pond, the author provides some factual and interesting information about some of the birds, animals, insects, and plants she has observed in the pond area. The final page of the book is entitled “Printing Textures” which explains to the reader different ways to use paint on a variety of objects (e.g. bubble wrap, tree bark) and press the object onto paper to make a different type of art work. Small sample pictures are provided. A worthwhile addition for the picture book collection in any elementary school library. Also, can be used for the science topic on pond life – its animals, plants, etc.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful book, in rhyme, about a pond and all the wonderful creatures that live there, among them six silent turtles who do very little for most of the book, but sit idly on a log and watch everyone else. Cathryn Falwell’s illustrations are gorgeous, filling her pages with almost 3-d images. She uses special ways to gain texture (like in the tree trunks) and explains how in the back of the book. The poetry comes naturally between pauses that look at those six turtles sitting still as stones. For example, “Wood ducks glide./Water striders slide./Salamanders dash./Tadpoles splash.” Very fun. This would be a good experience in rhyming for young readers and writers. There is more information about the animals in the backmatter, too.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. 5 stars for the over-the-top-gorgeous illustrations, great active verbs/vocabulary (perch, lurch, scamper, dash, skim, scurry, etc), and recurring line "But the six silent turtles sit still as stones" (which kids can deliver in storytime). But

"Fern fronds rustle.
Butterflies bustle.
And the six startled turtles...
suddenly speed away!"

felt disappointing and anticlimactic (2 stars for that!). Taking the time to say "suddenly" almost always makes things feel less sudden. "Speed" isn't as strong an "s" verb as I'd like for an ending. "Splash" is obvious but could pack more punch. Others?

Could be lovely to share one-on-one or in small group before nature walk. Note to self: the book's set in summer (summer storytime? Outdoors storytime?).

[Susanna S571 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful collage artwork. It's definitely aimed at younger readers and pre-readers. It would be good for helping to learn vocabulary and alliteration. I think if I had read it on its own and not at the same time as a few other picturebooks that I enjoyed more, it would have been more memorable for me. As it was, it completely slipped my mind until I came onto Goodreads to review my latest stack of books.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathryn Falwell playfully describes the actions of various animals bustling in Frog Song Pond. While the other animals are active, six turtles rest silently on a log until a strong wind sends them scurrying away.

Nice selection for young children interested in wild life. The lyrical rhyme of the book makes it an enjoyable read aloud. Also the back pages provide several learning extensions.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

0-7
nice pond rhymes about all the life and movement of a pond. while the "green frogs leap. beatles creep. finches purch. herons lurch." etc, the "six green turtles sit still as stones" -- we meet a variety of pond animals...and the turtles remain silent and still until a gust of wind takes their log down the stream. The illustrations are in colorful paper collages.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paper art illustrations about a summer pond. Great for vocabulary. Not a story, though there is a simple repetitive phrase that ties it together and offers a conclusion.
"Wriggle! Waggle! Scuttle! Skim! On every reed and stone and limb! But the six silent turtles sit still as stones."
Toddler through early elementary.

[Deborah Harris]

I like this book, it talks about animal behavior in simple sentences. Noun and verb. Beetles creep. The turtles sit silent as stones. The variety of verbs in this text will lend itself to lessons about action words. Each page has a variety of animals students can find and count the animals. The animals appear through out the text so it could lend itself to an addition lesson. grades K - 2nd.

[Kristi]

This book talks about the day at the pond for the animals. It describe each of the animals and different aspects of nature as they flow down the pond.
This book could be very interactive with the students using noises from the animals and nature. It could also be used with the idea of talking about the different species that would live in water compared to land.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations compliment rhyming and alliterative text. Six silent turtles sit still as stones while other animals dance around them. Wonderful for nature centers/ nature storytimes. Identification and facts about the animals on the last page.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just not a Molly book. I try to like books like this but I struggle. I did like the rhyme of it but animals in nature doing there thing just does not excite me and I rarely find a person to give it to. Ages 3+

[Kelly Holmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story with vibrant illustrations. It has a lot of fun words to read aloud. For example: "Wriggle! Waggle! Scuttle! Skim!" I also like the details at the end about the animals, for kids who want to learn more.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored the wonderful collage artwork that incorporates actual pieces of nature (a found piece of wasp nest used in the wasp nest)into the design. The rhythmic story would be wonderful for storytime and I loved the author's notes in the back.

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, sing-song narrative and gorgeous paper collage illustrations make this a wonderful book to read aloud with children, pointing out all the neat creatures along the way.

The alliteration and onomatopoeia are really fun and we've read this one a few times.

[Bree Bosse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated repetitive, rhyming book. It has wonderful adjectives and descriptive words. It also gives many examples of animals/birds/bugs/etc. that live near bonds. WOULD BE A GREAT READ ALOUD.

[Kixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous artwork, and fun text it's based on. Love the "notes" at the end, which may serve as an entry point for older readers who may enjoy the artwork--it tells them how to create their own--as well as talking more about the animals she's illustrated.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The author uses a lot of sounds and movements to make the book come to life. There's so much activity everywhere that we never get to see. Wonderful read!