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On Duck Pond
(On Bird Hill and Beyond #2)
by
In On Bird Hill, Yolen and Marstall took readers on a surreal journey with a boy and his dog, as they stopped, looked, and noticed things along their path—ultimately discovering the miracle of the birth of a baby bird. On Duck Pond continues the journey of the boy and dog story, this time in a new place—a serene pond, filled with birds, frogs, turtles and other creatures g
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Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
April 11th 2017
by Cornell Lab Publishing Group
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A great rhyming tale about a boy walking his dog observing the wildlife along the pond.
Although On Duck Pond has a barely noticeable fictional frame around the narrative, it is essentially a work of nonfiction told in verse. As ducks arrive at the pond on a summer morning, their quacking makes quite a disturbance, which sets in motion a variety of responses among the other animals that call the pond home. Eventually things calm down, and the animals return to normal. The animal behaviors in Jane Yolen’s newest book will catch the interest of animal and nature lovers, and Bob Marsh
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An anonymous narrator observes how quickly the quiet of a small pond is interrupted by the noisy arrival of a "quack of ducks" first seen approaching it on the title page. As they splash down, the narrator notices how all the other pond residents are surprised and quickly scatter - turtles, frogs, tadpoles, herons all rush away in the rippling water. Luckily for the pond inhabitants, the narrator tells us, the ducks are only staying temporarily and as soon as they move on, the quiet peaceful lif
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An episode in verse about the arrival of small flock of ducks and the effect their brouhaha has on the residents. It effectively points out how events that seem minor to us are dramatic to others, helping the reader explore empathy and appreciation for the wonders of nature. Reminds me of the poetry by Mary Oliver.
3.5 stars rounded up because I do recommend to everybody who reads picture-books or poetry. ...more
3.5 stars rounded up because I do recommend to everybody who reads picture-books or poetry. ...more
Few in this world write with the beauty and ear for words the way Jane Yolen does. She takes a simple moment at a pond and turns it into an observation, a poem. A gentle book about a walk by a pond and how quickly things can change and how they can return to calm again.
This is the second book in the children’s picture book series by the award-winning duo of Yolen and Marstall that is done in conjunction with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. A boy and his dog take a walk in a new setting. This time it is near a pond where everything is very quiet but soon the ducks arrive and break the silence with their splashing and quacking. The other creatures at the pond are startled and move away, including frogs, turtles, a heron and the tadpoles. Soon the pond goes back
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Brief summary: On Duck Pond written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Bob Marstall. Jane Yolen's vivid poem and Bob Marstall's engaging and fun illustrations give the reader a front row seat in nature as a noisy raft of ducks lands and shatters the tranquillity of a pond, sending all manner of creatures away. As the ducks move on, the creatures return and bring a new peace to the pond, one that the reader shares in. Back matter about various species of ducks and other pond life will satisfy curi
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A boy and his dog go for a walk by Duck Pond. It was quiet and still. There was a frog on a pad and tadpoles swimming. Suddenly, a quack of ducks splashed down and created a raucous. The frog fell from his pad and the tadpoles swam away.
Down they splashed. The water spattered.
They chittered, whistled, chattered.
Old Duck Pond, once still and quiet, now
Seemed battered by the riot.
What do you think will happen when the ducks fly away?
This simplistic story by Jane Yolen is quaint and easy to read. C ...more
Down they splashed. The water spattered.
They chittered, whistled, chattered.
Old Duck Pond, once still and quiet, now
Seemed battered by the riot.
What do you think will happen when the ducks fly away?
This simplistic story by Jane Yolen is quaint and easy to read. C ...more
My 5 year old picked this book at out the library, and we both loved it. Coincidentally we had just taken a little walk around a pond very much like the one in the book so it was perfect timing. Based on the cover, I had expected a lot of text and a book that wouldn't capture her attention for long, but I was pleasantly surprised.
The text was just a sentence or two per page with a nice rhythm and rhyme, and she absolutely loved looking for all the details and animals on each page, kind of creat ...more
The text was just a sentence or two per page with a nice rhythm and rhyme, and she absolutely loved looking for all the details and animals on each page, kind of creat ...more
A pair of mallard ducks has taken up residence in my neighbor's yard, so this is a timely one for me. I liked how the book celebrated the simple joys of just observing nature. I think nothing else fosters a greater appreciation for the natural world and its inhabitants.
The conclusion of the book names, and gives brief facts about, the variety of species shown in the book's realistic illustrations. Once again, it's so nice to see a kid's book about being a quiet watcher in the natural world rath ...more
The conclusion of the book names, and gives brief facts about, the variety of species shown in the book's realistic illustrations. Once again, it's so nice to see a kid's book about being a quiet watcher in the natural world rath ...more
Who hasn't had that moment of nature zen shattered by a flock of noisy ducks? It's something all of us can relate to and Jane Yolen paints the picture perfectly in poetry, capturing that experience--from the quiet before the deluge, the invasion of cacophonous fowls, and the return to stasis after--for us all, adults and kids alike, in a slim, fun volume. Opening this picture book is like opening your window and experiencing it firsthand...if you're lucky enough to have your window face a pond.
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Oops, the first couplet is cut off from its resolution, so I'm tripping right out of gate. Despite the lively language (love "chittered, whistled, chattered") and action-packed scenes, (love the frog surfacing), I never gain steady footing. I get the idea of making the birds realistic, but the human isn't quite, and so the whole thing feels squeazy. On Bird Hill is a much surer thing. Sequels are so darn trickly.
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A poetic story about observing nature while going for a walk. Back matter includes information on the collective nouns associated with ducks, as well as information about the different species of ducks and other animals living near the pond habitat depicted in the illustrations.
A quietly beautiful read aloud for PreK-2.
A quietly beautiful read aloud for PreK-2.
This picture book could be well used in the classroom on a habitat unit. I wasn't too excited about the narrative of this book, although it does incorporate a lot of new vocabulary. The magic of this book is in the pictures, where there is so much to notice in the drawings. Great for animals lovers and teachers.
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May 25, 2017
Melle
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
budding naturalists
Shelves:
picture-book,
fiction,
read-in-2017,
juvenile,
dakota-county-library-book,
ducks,
nature,
wildlife,
biology,
copyright-2017
Similar to Kwame Alexander and Joel Sartore's Animal Ark (2017), this book lovingly marries art and science in an appreciation of the natural wildlife found near a duck pond -- ducks, herons, frogs, turtles, and even deer! Bob Marstall's illustrations are lovely, and Jane Yolen's text is poetry. For budding naturalists.
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Although I think this book would make a nice bedtime story, I love the information and activities included at the end of the book. I’d use this book in a classroom setting, too, just so I could share the fun facts and encourage deeper observations by the children.
For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co... ...more
For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co... ...more
While taking a walk, the poet is startled by the loud riot of ducks landing in the pond. All the animals, turtles, frogs, herons, etc were also startled and hid away. But when the ducks settled in the water stilled again and the animals came out of hiding. The poet continued his walk away from Duck Pond.
A calm pond is sent into chaos by the arrival of ducks. They splash down, sending ripples through the water and chasing animals from their spots. "Old Duck Pond, once still and quiet, Now seemed battered by the riot." But when the ducks move on, silence and stillness return to the pond.
A tribute to the joys of being one with nature. ...more
A tribute to the joys of being one with nature. ...more
Beautiful illustrations support this rhyming story of life for the wildlife on Duck Pond. The back of the book has additional information about all the birds and wildlife featured in the book. Both of my boys loved birds and would have loved this book when they were little. Nice read, informative and perfect for counting and discussing all of the animals.
A quiet day on a pond is explored until a little fright happens. How will the animals react. Simple words and clear pictures. Toddler and up. Loved the non fiction companion at the end to delight older readers.
On the dull side, especially for the youngest readers. There's no real story and no characters; it's simply a snapshot of a morning when a raucous group of ducks invade a pond and startle the locals.
Some interesting "back of the book" information. ...more
Some interesting "back of the book" information. ...more
Some of the language may be too complex for very young readers, but the illustrations are lovely! I did enjoy the author's reference to "a quack of ducks." There's a note in the back that says she made it up, and I am glad that she did--what fun!
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The serenity of the pond and its creatures is disturbed by a man and his dog walking. Then all becomes calm and settled on the pond again. Illustrations are wonderful from tadpoles, lily pads, turtles and various species of ducks.
Commissioned by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this is really a series of nature paintings with a hint of a story crammed around them. It would have been better with a more non-fiction, animal facts approach to the text.
When the ducks start moving a chain reaction is triggered at the pond.
good vocabulary of an occurrence on a quiet pond full of nature.
Additional info about the creatures at back of the book.
Additional info about the creatures at back of the book.
Enjoyed the poetic verse. More about ducks, birds and other pond animals in the back. Beautiful illustrations.
Simple but beautiful rhymes catch the essence of a nature encounter. Soft colored pencil drawings also add to the serene feel of the book.
Entertaining - and informational.
Yolen's rhymes are beautiful and the pictures a soft, perfect accompaniment to the story. Great way to introduce young ones to animal behavior within a story.
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Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachuset
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On Bird Hill and Beyond
(3 books)
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