In the Small, Small Pond

Denise Fleming's Caldecott Honor book is a field guide to the pond for the youngest reader and viewer. Her pictures, created from her hallmark papers, brightly depict various creatures in spirited, yet typical postures. Her words describe the actions and are positioned on the page to further explain the meaning of each. As narrator, Laura Dern takes this one step further and matches her speed and inflection to both the word and the creature's action. A crescendo rises with the activity in and around the pond as the seasons change and fades to the sl-o-w beat of hibernation. Animal sound effects complement the text. Look carefully for the frog as you listen to the action near the pond! A.R. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

September 13, 1993
The backyard exploration begun with In the Tall, Tall Grass continues here with Fleming's latest picture-book peek at nature. The animals and insects that live on and in a freshwater pond wiggle, waddle, hover, swoop and swirl through the stunning spreads--and through the seasons of the year. Fish, frogs and fowl cavort first in the vibrant greens and yellows of spring and summer, then on through fiery autumn reds and oranges and, finally, amid barren browns and icy whites as winter sets in. Young children are introduced to the basic habits of common North American wildlife and to the characteristics of the changing seasons even as they are treated to an array of zippy verbs. Fleming's color-saturated handmade paper technique makes for dramatic tapestries that feature both sharp contrast and subtle shading. Scenes depicting clacking crawfish and parading geese are especially spirited. Ages 2-6.