Among the Pond People

Among the People #4

by Clara Dillingham Pierson, F.C. Gordon (Illustrator)

A delightful volume of nature stories for young children. Presents the adventures of Mother Eel, the Playful Muskrat, the Snappy Snapping Turtle, and the other Pond People. These stories are full of humor, yet cleverly convey information about the frogs, minnows, and other pond residents and often suggest a moral in a delicate manner which no child could resist. Ideally suited for children ages 5 to 7.

Genres: Science, Nature, Childrens, School, Classics, Science Nature

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 1901

About the author

Clara Dillingham Pierson (d. 1952) was an early 20th century American children's author. Her most popular works were quasi-naturalistic stories about animals. Her Among the People series of animal story collections, published between 1897 and 1902, placed her among the leading nature-story authors of her day. Like similar animal tales written a few years later by Thornton Burgess, her stories often carried a moral.

Another of her series featured the adventures of the three Miller children who live in a house called Pencroft, named for Pierson's summer home in Omena, Michigan. She built it with her income as a writer.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, we love these precious books. I adore not only the lessons but also the natural history. Several times after reading a chapter of this book, we had to look up the animal to watch videos of the amazing ways they live. I think I learned more from this Among book than any of our previous three--stuff I had never known before. Water spiders and traveling eels!

[Amanda Nevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun summer school book! Adorable and funny. Well loved by all my children ☺️

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love the stories by Clara Dillingham Pierson! They don't always have happy endings, because some of the creatures are naughty and reap the natural consequences of their choices. All the tales have a subtle moral that is left for the child to draw out on his own, while painting a picture of the creatures and their characteristics and habits in a natural way that fits right into the story. It never feels contrived or preachy, or overly "educational," but still educates gently, the WHOLE person, I would say, because of all the ideas that are there to ponder; attitudes (good AND bad), obedience, quarrels, contentment, kindness, friendship, vanity, consequences, family, gossip...in addition to the descriptions of pond creatures, plants, ecosystem, habits, diet, temperament, instinct, "creature features," etc. - all clothed in lovely writing with good vocabulary.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing read made up of morality tales as told via anthropomorphized pond creatures. Some nature facts are woven in but more often than not they aren't explained fully. Young readers would be hard pressed to distinguish the "moral" behaviors from the "natural" behaviors.

They won't care, however. The stories are endearing with familiar themes like sibling rivalry, disobedience, setting reasonable goals, and independence. The animals aren't the cute and cuddly type (it's a pond) but most should be identifiable.

Budding naturalists should enjoy this but mostly it's a general read.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took my time with this book. I found each little chapter so precious. This is definitely a great read to share with children. I will make sure to get my hands on a translated edition to read to my nephews at some point.

[Camille Hoffmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this one as much as the forest people, though still a fun way to introduce a younger audience to nature's many animals. The water spider was fascinating!

[Jennifer Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and truly "living book" that i enjoyed as much as my elementary and middle school children.

[Jessica Perteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my Form 1 students nature reader for this term.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great nature stories.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For kids

[Karyn Tripp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darling story to read to your kids about the animals who live in a pond. Each animal has a story to tell... It is quite educational as well as fun to read. Find this and many others by the same author in the Kindle classics section for free.

[Ben Steves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun!

Great short stories. Some science, lots of life lessons. Kids loved it. Some of the language was very old fashioned but we got used to it quickly.