Common Sense Media Review
By Jan Carr
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lovely book about wildlife teeming in and around a pond.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In OVER AND UNDER THE POND, a boy and his mom paddle over a pond in a canoe. When the boy asks, "What's down there?" the text describes the life that's both over and above the pond. For instance, under the pond beavers dive for "delectable roots," and dragonflies "catch minnows in their monster-fast jaws." Above the pond, a red-winged blackbird collects grasses for her nest. As "the sky turns from sunset to dusk to dark," the two head home, while "Night settles over the pond … and the hidden world under the pond."
Is It Any Good?
A book that's as deep and bountiful as the pond it plumbs, this profile of a rich, busy ecosystem will entrance all nature lovers. In Over and Under the Pond, author Kate Messner's text is clear and informative as well as lyrical, with passages such as "The water's a mirror, reflecting the sky," and a description of dragonfly larvae catching minnows "in monster-fast jaws."
Illustrator Christopher Silas Neal's art makes the pond come alive, revealing what cannot easily be seen below the surface. In one spread with a striking perspective, we look down at the pond from the great height of a woodpecker pecking a tall tree. In another, we look up from the depths at the bottom of the boat. Neal cast the boy and the mom as African-American, and it's our pleasure to take a ride with this thoughtful, observant pair, as our attention is drawn to all the wildlife around them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the animals featured in the "About the Animals" key at the end of Over and Under the Pond. Can you find each of the animals in the story?
Which animals are herbivores (plant eaters) and which are carnivores (meat eaters)?
Is there a place near you where you can observe animals in their natural habitat? What can you see and hear if you're quiet?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Christopher Silas Neal
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Animals ( Bugs , Wild Animals ) , STEM
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Chronicle Books
- Publication date : March 7, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 5 - 8
- Number of pages : 48
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate