Book List for

Pond and Stream/Pond/Stream Studies

Title / Type / Access / Author /

Summary

/ Concepts / Additional Information
*Crawdad Creek^ / PB / H / Scott Russell Sanders / Panning for gold, two children discover fossils and amazing life living in a creek. / Aquatic life, fossils
*Eliza and the Dragonfly / PB / M / Susie Caldwell Rinehart / A young girl goes exploring the pond with her entomologist aunt. She finds an ugly bug, shows him to her multi-ethnic friends and watches his metamorphosis. / Metamorphosis, career choices, / A list of online resources is provided
The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball / PB / H / Lisa Horstman / In this magical story, a young girl goes exploring one evening and discovers a salamander gathering. The salamanders teach her how to respect salamanders convert her into an ambassador. Illustrates different salamander species. / Respect for wildlife
The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks / PB / E / Joanna Cole / Ms. Frizzle assigns her class an assignment to discover where their city’s water comes from. They tour the clouds, reservoir and waterworks / Water purification, water supply / A Lesson Plan Book is available by Joanna Cole
*The Water Hole / PB / E / Graeme Base / Beautifully illustrated, this simple looking counting book has lessons appropriate for preschoolers to parents. The creative illustrations and hidden messages will have your students coming back to it again and again. / Conservation, ecosystems
Around the Pond / NPB / H / Ann Cooper / Provides information rich vignettes about different pond animals. / Habitats, animal habits,
A Drop Around the World / NPB / M / Barbara Shaw McKinney / In verse, this book traces the story of one drop of water as it travels around the world thru people, plants, animals, clouds, reservoirs and vapor. / Water Cycle, states of matter, geography / Sharing Nature With Children Book, Teacher’s Guide by Carol Malnor available
*The Drop in My Drink: The Story of Water on Our Planet / NPB / M / Merideth Hooper / This engaging book includes a detailed story of a water drop through a T Rex, a worm, and an Egyptian princess. / Water Cycle
Follow the Water From Brook to Ocean / NPB / M / Arthur Dorros / This EZ Reader traces water’s journey, explains where it comes from and how it travels. / Water cycle, brook, stream, river, delta / Let’s-Read-and-Find Out Science 2 series
Near One Cattail: Turtles, Logs and Leaping Frogs / NPB / M / Anthony Fredericks / This rhyming book illustrates life in a pond. / Pond life / Sharing Nature With Children Book
A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History / NPB / E / Lynne Cherry / The history of a New England River is told: the use by native peoples, severe pollution during the Industrial Revolution and finally restoration efforts by a group of concerned citizens. / Water quality, native peoples, use of water, successful clean-up efforts / Includes a map, timeline and detailed drawings of historical items
*Song of the Water Boatman / Poetry NPB / E / Joyce Sidman / Each page contains a creative poem and educational blurb about one of the common pond creatures / Pond life, food chains, adaptataions / Great fun!
What’s in the Pond / NPB / H / Ann Hunter / This book focuses on the megafauna that lives around the pond. It also provides accurate illustrations and some information about aquatic insects students will find in the pond. / Aquatic animals,
Where Does Water Come From / NPB / H / Vance Cast, Sue Wilkinson / Provides basic information about water on Earth in an informative tone. / Availability of water / Grades k-4. A Clever Calvin Book
Eye Witness: Pond and River / CNF / E / Steve Parker / This reference provides clear photos and information on aquatic species with brief chapters on seasons, birds, fish, insects, plants, deltas, etc. / Aquatic species / Most of the species illustrated are European; however, many have close relatives here in the southeast. Appropriate for grades 5-8.
Mountain Stream / CNF / H / Paul Fleisher / Describes the ecology of a mountain stream. / Named a Best Book for Children in 1999.
The River / CNF / M / Laura Bour, Gallimard Jeunesse / Transparent overlays are used in this book to depict the life in and along the river with a focus on birdlife. The lifecycle of the dragonfly is also included. Showing a family enjoying the river and then illustrating pollution, the book concludes with a strong environmental message. / Aquatic life, pollution / This book was originally produced in French.
River and Stream / CNF / M / April Pulley Sayre / This well-focused text is organized into distinct units and includes photos and diagrams for further explanation. / Aquatic plants, aquatic animals, human impacts, physical characteristics / Appropriate for grades 5-8
Up River / CNF / M / Asch / Laid out like a picture book, but with text more like a chapter book, this is the story of how two 13 year old boys became involved in the clean-up of a river. Although the dialogue sometimes feels false, the book is filled with pictures and information that is valuable. / Water pollution, restoration efforts / Grades 3-6
One Day on Teton Marsh / MG/YA / M / Sally Carrighar / In this classic, each chapter tells the story of a different animal living in the marsh. The stories intertwine and delight. The natural history is so accurate that you do not notice anthropomorphism. / Connections, animal behavior, aquatic species

For more information, see the entire book list on the Resource Library, at