Turtle Splash!: Countdown at the Pond

by Cathryn Falwell

One by one, ten turtles splash into the pond. A counting book and fun exploration of animals at the pond, perfect for preschoolers. It's a peaceful day at the pond as ten timid turtles bask in the sun. But wait! A bullfrog leaps, a rabbit rustles, deer appear, a chickadee chirps, and the turtles dive one by one into the water. Splash! For storytime at home or in the classroom, use Turtle Splash! to gently reinforce early counting lessons, as well as information about the animals that visit a pond. But most of turtles!

Genres: Picture Books, Counting, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Number, Mathematics

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 7, 2001

Reviews

[Briana]

This story was read during a math lesson with kindergarten students. It was used to discuss 'one less than'. The students liked the story and had fun with acting it out .

[Libby Hill]

Loved the layers in this book. Ideal for pre-K and kindergarten aged kiddos learning 0-10 math skills, this is still a book kids up to 2nd and 3rd grade will enjoy.
The illustrations and story pattern introduce various animal species who hang out at the pond and the back matter goes into depth about each one.

The author/illustrator also provides a note about her collage art and presents the opportunity to do an art project with leaf rubbing/ painting.

This is a non-fiction concept book at its finest!

[Lorellie]

such a beautiful counting book.

[Una Sarayba]

There are many underlying educational components to this book that may go unnoticed. This counting book was incredibly dynamic in terms of writing style. Alliteration and assonance are greatly used throughout the book, creating an engaging and sonically appealing story. Using literary devices such as alliteration, assonance, consonance, and different types of rhymes helps young readers identify language and sound. Alongside these literary techniques, the text guides readers through counting the number of turtles that sit by the pond. Finally, the illustrations highlight the biodiversity of the area and show readers the different life forms that may reside in or near a pond. All of these components of the book can serve as lessons in literature, numerics, and biology which is wonderful for students in kindergarten to 2nd grade. The pictures in this book really struck me. They do a wonderful job of capturing the beauty of nature and untouched environments. The colorful illustrations do a great job of presenting the natural colors seen in nature, which I thought was incredibly appealing. A particular image that really stood out to me was the second to last page, where one last turtle sits on a log overlooking the pond and the beautiful sunset. The turtle’s smallness in comparison to its surroundings shows the vastness of the space and nature. This is a cute book for younger readers and the artwork can be appreciated by many.

[Maggie Moser]

Turtle splash is a great way that children can learn to count to ten. This book is illustrated with 10 turtles on a log that is in a pound and counting back from 10 as the turtles begin to go off the log. Each time a turtle is going off the log it is spooked off the log by an animal by the pond. Turtle splash is a great way to be able to keep children's focus when learning to count instead of just showing them 1-10. When looking at this book, you can ask the children what on the page they think is going to spook the turtles off the log. This way the book can have a fun interactive aspect, as well as showing them how to count. This is a great book for ages 1-3.

[Lark-at-the-library]

The cut-paper illustrations in this little book are so beautiful. Each page is just enchanting. The detail, and textures she is able to create are inspiring (especially since I also like to create art with cut-paper).
The story is also a fun counting book. I enjoy using this book for story times themed around ponds, or turtles.

[Robin Raines-Bond]

Fun counting book with great illustrations. I liked the animal facst at the end of the book and the tutorial on How to Make Leaf Prints.

[Veronica]

So, this one got a low rating from me. The book is not bad, but there is not much to it. It is a basic math concept book. It revolves around 10 turtles who are resting on a log. One by one the turtles leave the log and jump into the pond beneath them. I do think the illustrations are decent throughout this book. They are made from pieces of material from around the house and outside in nature. For example, she used grocery bags and birch bark to make the collages. There are also instructions on the back page that give directions on how to make leaf prints. This is where the illustrator connects with the reader, and they make art in collaboration. I do think this book would be good for classroom use if the young readers were learning the basics of subtraction. If the students were learning to subtract 1 from a given number, I do think this book would be helpful. Besides that, it was a bore for me, personally.

[Janet]

Ten painted turtles on a log in the pond are disturbed by various forest creatures and one by one they return to the pond. Lovely blues and aqua colores in these illustrations. Added information includes details about each of the ten pond and forest creatures who disturb the turtles. The one very short paragraph on each creature contains some detail. . .the bushy squirrel's tail helps it to balance, the female mosquito is the one that bites, and the great spangled fritillary butterfly eats violets. Well done title.

[Rose Rosetree]

Such a clever counting book for preschoolers, courtesy of Cathryn Falwell!

What happens to those turtles? Surely that will be foremost in the minds of little readers. Which animals will come onto the scene, whether a bullfrog, a rabbit, or a butterfly?

* Pacing is gentle.
* Pictures are colorful, with all animals easy to identify.
* In the background, readers receive excellent help for learning those numerals.

FIVE STARS -- that's my ratingfor this big success by author and illustrator Cathryn Falwell.

[Kristen]

This was a cute book that used counting and introduced all sorts of pond animals. It also had a cute rhyme that went along with the book some what prompting you with the next number. I liked that it counted down similar to the 5 Little Monkeys. Counting down can be hard for kids.

The illustrations were nice and colorful. We loved looking on each page for the animals described. My 2.5 year old daughter really enjoyed it.

[Angela De Groot]

Turtles are my favorite! This lovely rhyming, count backwards, picture book starts with 10 turtles on a log. Page by page, something disturbs the basking turtles reducing their number until - SPLASH! - they’re all gone. The story ends with ten tired turtles sleeping on the bottom of the pond. The back matter includes information about the other creatures living in or around the pond. And there’s a fun Leaf Print craft, too.

[Christabelle]

Another counting book. I’m afraid this was my first thought as I opened the book but it’s cute cute and soon even my big one doing dishes was counting down from the kitchen. The pictures are engaging enough that one begins to take note of which turtle is about to leave. My kids love it, even if mommy needs to be talked into reading it!

[Michelle]

This is a really cute counting/rhyming book about shy little turtles. The art is really lovely too look at and it has a little explanation in the back of how it was made, and how it can be turned into an activity for the child reading it. It also has some nice little info on the animals found by the pond for those a little older.

[Shaunterria]

A counting book by Falwell (so it is beautiful, of course) made using multimedia collages, it starts with ten turtles. One by one, they splash into the water until they are all sleeping peacefully on the pond floor. The rhymes are not forced and easy to read aloud, and all of the different animals will hold the attention of young readers. Recommended for early childhood storytimes.

[Lynn Davidson]

This nature counting book takes the reader, in a fun way, from 10 to 1 turtles on a log. Also mentioned are chickadees, ducks, pollywogs, and other animals. In the back of the book is information about each. Lovely illustrations.

[Mrs Getz]

I read this to preschool only because one of the students requested it. I found it odd to read aloud. The counting down concept is important but I felt like it could have included more background in the story.

[Sara]

A rhyming countdown book. Would have been stronger with more compelling reasons for the turtles to go in the water. Meter also varies.

[Beckie]

Fun counting book and gorgeous illustrations.

[Kalley the Chipmunk]

I read this myself. I liked looking for the animals hiding in the pictures. I had a turtle.Her name was Lola. I drew a picture of her for my mom.

[Elizabeth]

AR 1.3

[Diana]

Very cute. The little one who was reading it wish me was fascinated. And she stayed fascinated through the whole book, which says something!

[Hannah]

It counted down, which is hard for kids still establishing number sense. But a great book for a child who understands numbers and their proper order.

[Rachel]

Cute counting book with rhyming lyrics.

[Maeve]

Storytime:
Counting
Animals, Woodland
Color: Green

[Margaret]

The illustrations are BEAUTIFUL and remind us of Sapsucker Woods. Love the collages and art activity at end.

[Sally Weiss]

A great book to use to introduce the concept of "counting down" which can be hard for little ones. Perfect for a math addition to our pond themed week of learning.

[Christine Grant]

Countdown to Kindergarten: Letter T

Countdown from 10 to 1 as turtles flee. Just okay.

[Stephanie]

Read this with the 7 and 2 year olds. They liked it. A fun, rhyming countdown book that reminds me of our creek turtles.

[Haley Kilgour]

A fun little counting book with turtles.