Pond Year

by Kathryn Lasky, Mike Bostock (Illustrator)

A shallow, mucky pond becomes the site of intrigue and wonder for two best friends as they discover floating frogs' eggs in springtime, wild lady's slippers in summer, thick algae and damselflies in the autumn, and skate-ready ice in winter.

Genres: Picture Books, Summer, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1995

About the author

Kathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely watercolors are the perfect companion to an engaging text that packs a significant amount of information into a slender picture book: months of the year, seasons, life cycles of frogs and insects, as well as the various flora/fauna in a pond ecosystem. The two little girls are intrepid -- visiting and playing in and around the pond daily -- even when it smells bad, the bottom of the pond is mucky, insects bite, or the weather is inclement. The girls' companionable friendship is quietly established and explored as well!

[MotherofReaders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book that celebrates nature play for children and provides plenty of inspiration. My daughter wasn’t as drawn to it this year as I had hoped, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. We will definitely check it out again.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author tells about when she was a little girl and she and her best friend, Carole, would play by the pond all year in the different seasons. They discovered and watched wonderful creatures in nature, and always ended up muddy. Great illustrations.

[Kendalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I exalt nature writing directed at children, especially when it is invested in teaching them the names of plants and flowers and showing them the minute and teeming world of even a single, square foot ecosystem.

[Merry · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Pond buddies, scum chums - forever" ....Two girls, best friends, visit a pond, their favorite place, and discover it's life through out the different seasons. It reminds me of the memories we made as children. Good for any small child thru elementary school. Beautiful illustrations. Especially nice for girls. Copyright 1995, I think it is out of print.

[Alley Denney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The illustrations were wonderfully did and the story can relate to most elementary students when it comes to playing in the dirt and bugs. I think reading this to a class would be fun.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about two girls who are friends and hang out at the pond together. It talks about the life cycle of the frog and the dragonfly and damselfly. Good elementary school book teaching about nature.

[The Reading Countess]

rd. pp. 92 and 100 for NF craft lesson

[Finny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mommy says: exquisite watercolors.

[Logan Young]

Quick read. Appropriate for 1st or 2nd grade. Story of two friends adventures during the summer; very similar to the way my best friend and I spent our summers.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story of the changes of a pond over the course of a year. I love the imagery and the descriptions.