In the Pond
From the Set Spot Nature
Ponds--home to cute animals and cool plants. Developing readers learn about the pond ecosystem in this low-level search-and-find beginning reader. Frogs on lilypads and ducks diving for fish, all of it can be found at a pond. Ponds serve as the perfect home for amphibians like frogs with its semi-aquatic ecosystem. Early readers will discover tadpoles, water lilies, and more while learning about this biome. A search-and-find feature reinforces new vocabulary to build reading success while close-up images captivate young audiences. A great early STEM book to inspire learning about biomes for kindergartners and first graders.
SLJ Review of Spot Nature
This series is a very good, very simple introduction to STEM learning, and to a variety of common environments/ biomes, for young learners. Each slim title opens with a challenge for students to find four pictures/items (an environmental feature, an animal, or a plant) and their corresponding labels in the book as they read. The text offers support for readers to find the objects, which show up again in the “Did You Find?” section at the end of each book as extra reinforcement. The photos may be used as a sort of “index” to help students return to the relevant book pages if they wish; otherwise, volumes have no back matter. Each volume employs simple, engaging language that introduces and explains the biome and its distinctive features, landscape, temperature, and other information. It’s also notable for the excellent, eye-catching color photos, with some attention-grabbing close-ups. Students will meet animals, plants, and environments they may be unfamiliar with. VERDICT Recommended for schools and public collections.