Common Sense Media Review
By Jan Carr
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Boy finds magical world in imaginative, artful tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In BEYOND THE POND, a boy named Ernest D. tries to plumb the depths of the pond outside his house. When he can't touch the bottom with a stick, a fishing line, or a stone, he decides to explore. He gathers "his explorer supplies," suits up, and dives into the dark depths of the pond, where he comes upon a sunken ship and buried treasure. He then climbs out on the other side and discovers a magical world on land where he sees dinosaurs and unicorns, takes flight with a bird, and battles and brawls "until the moon ducked low." When he returns home, he finds that his home looks a little less ordinary, and "every street and every corner was a place unexplored. 'Exceptional!' said Ernest D."
Is It Any Good?
Older picture-book readers can enjoy this imaginative tale about diving into a bottomless pond and discovering a magical world with unicorns, dinosaurs, and ghoulish, ghastly creatures. Throughout, the writing is artfully crafted -- "He dove into lightless stretches and through sunken treasures" -- and there are fun details. What kid wouldn't want that array of "explorer supplies"? The digital art is appealing, as is the message that imagination brightens perception.
The parade of experiences, though, can seem a bit hodgepodge, more like a list than a single adventure with a strong connecting thread, and kids might be disappointed that the action's high points are referenced but not described in detail: "He battled and brawled until the moon ducked low." Parents should be careful about introducing this book to very young readers who can't swim and may not have gotten the memo yet that fantasy isn't real. For little ones, the life teeming at the edge of the pond -- tadpoles, fish, algae, and cattails -- can be magic enough.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about swimming and safety rules. Can you swim in water over your head? How far underwater is it safe to dive? When should you make sure to have an adult with you?
What can you notice in the world around you? What do you see in your everyday world that you haven't noticed before?
Do you ever imagine that there's a magical world in a pond? Or anywhere else you can't see? Draw a picture of what you imagine.
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Joseph Kuefler
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Balzer + Bray
- Publication date : October 6, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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