Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn YouTube TikTok
    • Home
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Advertise
    • Mentorship
    • Editing Services
    • About
    • Contact
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest TikTok
    The Children's Book Review
    Subscribe
    • Books by Subject
    • Books by Age
      • Ages 0-3, Infant and Toddler
      • Ages 4-8, Preschool to Elementary
      • Ages 9-12, Preteen and Tween
      • Ages 12+, Teen and Young Adult
      • Books for First Grade Readers
      • Books for Second Grade Readers
      • Books for Third Grade Readers
    • Favorites
      • Diverse and Inclusive Books
      • Books About Activism
      • Best Books for Kids
      • Star Wars Books
      • Board Books
      • Books About Mindfulness
      • Dr. Seuss Books
    • Showcase
    • Interviews
      • Growing Readers Podcast
      • Author Interviews and Q&A
      • Illustrator Interviews
    • Kids’ Book Giveaways
    • Directory
    • Podcast
    The Children's Book Review

    Over and Under the Pond, by Kate Messner | Book Review

    Dr. Jen HarrisonBy Dr. Jen Harrison3 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Animal Books Best Kids Stories Environment & Ecology Picture Books Science
    Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner Book Review
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    The Children’s Book Review | April 23, 2017

    Over and Under the PondOver and Under the Pond

    Written by Kate Messner

    Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

    Age Range: 5-8

    Hardcover: 40 pages

    Publisher: Chronicle Books (2017)

    ISBN: 978-1452145426

    What to Expect: Nature, Sensory Detail, Glossary

    There is a lot to see out and about on the water – but you have to know where to look. Above the pond, the narrator and his mother slip quietly over the water in their paddling boat, enjoying the calm day and the many sights around them. Turtles sit sunning themselves on a log, a moose eats water lilies, a blue heron fished. Below the water is a hive of activity and life: a caddisfly builds a nest, beavers dive for roots to eat, while the heron “catches a wiggling, quicksilver minnow from where it was hiding, under the pond.” As the day rambles on the sky turns from blue, to pink, to deep night purple: it’s time for the narrator and his mother to head for home.

    Over and Under the Pond Illustration 2

    Over and Under the Pond is a non-fiction book with the light, poetic feel of a story. Although it is pitched towards 5-8 year-olds, the simple language, narrative style, and sensory detail also make it an ideal introduction to natural history for younger children as well. Kate Messner uses sound particularly effectively throughout the volume, with alliteration which begs young readers to wrap their tongues around the sentences, and phrases such as “splash – gurgle – sploosh” designed to keep even pre-readers engaged. The illustrations by Christopher Silas Neal are calming and serene, with enough detail to make distinct species identifiable without degenerating to photographic perfection. Best of all, the narrative is followed by a glossary in which the readers can learn more about the animals in the book, including whirligig beetles, red-winged blackbirds, and river otters.

    Overall, this is a beautiful book, offering an accessible and engaging introduction to natural history and guaranteed to encourage a new generation of natural scientists.

    Available Here: 

    Text, logoBuy on AmazonLogo

    About Kate Messner

    Kate Messner is the award-winning author of more than a dozen other books for young readers, including Over and Under the Snow, Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, and How to Read a Story. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time outside. Kate lives in New York with her family.

    About Christopher Silas Neal

    Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning illustrator. He is a regular contributor to the New York Times and shows his art at various galleries nationwide. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn and teaches at Pratt Institute.

    Over and Under the Pond, by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal, was reviewed by Dr. Jen Harrison. Discover more books like Over and Under the Pond by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Christopher Silas Neal, Kate Messner, Natural History Books, and Nature Studies.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner | Book Review
    2. Illustration Inspiration: Jim Arnosky, Creator of Frozen Wild
    3. Pipsie, Nature Detective: The Lunchnapper, by Rick DeDonato | Book Review
    4. Pup the Sea Otter, by Jonathan London | Book Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Books About Pond Life Christopher Silas Neal Chronicle Books Kate Messner Natural History Books Nature Nature Studies
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleAnimal Planet Animal Bites Books | Book Spotlight
    Next Article Growing Successful and Confident Readers with Picture Books
    Dr. Jen Harrison
    • Website
    • X (Twitter)

    Dr. Jen Harrison provides writing and research services as the CEO of Read.Write.Perfect. She completed her Ph.D. in Children’s and Victorian Literature at Aberystwyth University in Wales, in the UK. After a brief spell in administration, Jen then trained as a secondary school English teacher and worked for several years teaching Secondary School English, working independently as a private tutor of English, and working in nursery and primary schools. She has been an editor for the peer-reviewed journal of children’s literature, Jeunesse, and has published academic work on children’s non-fiction, YA speculative fiction, and the posthuman.

    1 Comment

    1. Pingback: A Kate Messner Sampler – Spring Hill Library

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    TCBR Supporter
    Recent Articles
    • 10 Must-Read Chapter Books with Adventure, Humor, and Imagination
    • The Bangle Bombers Blast Banks | Dedicated Review
    • 5 Award-Winning Teen Audiobooks for Ages 12 and Up
    • The Chubby Bubbies: Trip to the Museum | Dedicated Review
    • Flora and the Jazzers, by Astrid Sheckels | Dedicated Review
    TCBR Supporters
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today

    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    Discover Kids Books by Age
    Best Books For Kids
    Media Kit: The Children's Book Review
    Author and Illustrator Showcase
    SEARCH
    BOOKS BY SUBJECT
    Archives
    Professional Resources

    Book Marketing Campaigns

    Writing Coaches and Editing Services

    Mentorship

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Policies
    • Advertise
    • TCBR Buzzworthy Mentions
    • About TCBR
    © 2025 The Children’s Book Review. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.