At the Edge of the Pond

Life at the pond is seen as one subsuming force that fills all with vigor and diversity. Sun rays touch the surface and stir everything into motion. Land and water meet at the edge, where the water shrew makes its home. Territorial circles are made throughout by the creatures that live there. For them, this is both a home and a deathtrap. In the warm waters that join the two separate worlds, frogs mate for several days, producing a mass of eggs; a few hatch and survive, then hop out of the water for the first time. Some picherel frogs use lily pads as hiding posts. And a turtle floats down to make its residence in the semi-darkness of the deep. Viewing the natural world with a holistic approach, Dewey writes about this particular experience with the sensitivity of a poet who has borrowed a scientist's lens. The end result is a mixture of acute observation and textual elegance. Simple, realistic illustrations of green, yellow and brown are suitable and eloquent accompaniment. Ages 6-10. (October)