The Secret Pool
by Kimberly Ridley; illus by Rebekah Raye
32 pages; ages 7-10
Tillbury House, 2013
"A shimmer. A twinkling. Do you have any inkling of
what I am?"
Themes: animal, nature, nonfiction
You might walk right by a vernal pool and not notice it. Or
you might think it's just a puddle in the woods. But vernal pools are more than
puddles...
Opening: "I'm a watery jewel called a vernal pool. I
sparkle, but that's not the only reason I'm precious. Many creatures of the
forest depend on me."
In this book you meet the frogs and salamanders and birds
and fairy shrimp that depend on a temporary pool. You see the life above and
the life below the waterline. Along the way you learn what "vernal
pools" are, the life cycle of frogs and salamanders, and how to go
"pool hopping".
What I like about this book: I love the artwork! Rebekah
Raye's illustrations make you just want to plunge right into a pool yourself. I
like the way author Kimberly Ridley tells the story from the point of view of
the pool itself. The text is easy to read, with rhyming words tucked in here
and there, and alliterations sprinkled throughout. About fairy shrimp, for
example: "Slim and frilly, they swim willy-nilly.... tickling me with
their feathery feet."
There's a sidebar on each spread, so readers can learn how
to tell the difference between frog and salamander eggs, what tadpoles look
like, and the predators who use the vernal pool as a snack bar. And there's a
helpful glossary at the back.
Beyond the Book: Spring peepers are usually the first frogs
we hear around our area. It's a bit chilly for frogs at the top of the hill
where I live, but my friends in the flatlands say they can already hear
frogsongs at night. You can
listen to the sounds of frogs from the Sandhills of
Nebraska
here.
Sing a Frog Song. One of my favorite counting songs is
"
Five Little Speckled Frogs". Sing along, or make up your own song
about life in the vernal pool.
Go on a Listening Walk. Walk into the woods or find a place
to listen outside for about 10 minutes. Write down all the spring sounds you
hear. Which ones are made by animals? Can you tell what animals are making
those noises? Are there any noises that aren't made by animals?
Play Vernal Pool Bingo. I borrowed this idea from UC Davis.
Create bingo sheets that feature different plants and animals that live in
vernal pools. This would be fun to play in the car while driving to a natural
area - or while sitting near a pool.
Make a Vernal Pool in a Bin. Line the bottom of your bin
with leaves - or paper leaves that you cut out of colored paper. Then pour in
some hydrated water beads (a mix of blues and greens with clear beads would be
neat). When you're out and about, look for some rubber or plastic frogs and
salamanders that you can put in your pool. Or draw the animals you see in the
book, and cut them out to put in and around your pool.
On Monday we'll
pool-hop over to join the
Nonfiction Monday round-up, where you'll find all
kinds of great nonfiction for children and teens.
Review f & g provided by publisher.
