Review by Booklist Review
The latest addition to Berkes and Dubin's Over In . . . series of nature books features 10 animals found in and around North American rivers. Using the rhyme scheme and cadence of the counting rhyme Over in the Meadow, the verses introduce families of manatees, blue herons, salmon, mallard ducks, water snakes, beavers, dragonflies, muskrats, tree frogs, and otters. The text reads aloud fairly well, apart from the occasional rough spot. Illustrating each verse is a pleasing collage created with painted, textured papers. The extensive back matter offers supplementary facts as well as musical accompaniment and suggestions for teachers and parents. A colorful, informative picture book.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-Berkes uses the rhythm of the familiar song "Over in the Meadow" to highlight some U.S. rivers and the animals that call them home. Each stanza focuses on an animal parent with an incrementally larger group of babies. The names of the babies (pups, ducklings, smolts) are italicized. The number of offspring is colored to help attract attention. Two-thirds of each page is dedicated to an illustration of the animals in their habitats. Salmon leap high over the water, ducks waddle along the shore. The other third includes the text, a number, and a map of the United States with the river marked where the animal might be found. Unfortunately, the maps aren't very helpful-no states are named. The maps are blank except for the Great Lakes and the river's name, which makes it difficult for young audiences to pinpoint its actual location. It's also misleading in that many of the animals appear in multiple regions. The illustrations are done in collage, adding a sense of motion and energy to the dynamic lyrics. They attract readers' attention and create depth (including space to hide an additional animal in each illustration). The prolific back matter allows this simple text to be used and extended in a classroom. Children will enjoy the rhyme and gain a new appreciation of the river environment.-Susan E. Murray, formerly at Glendale Public Library, AZ (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Based on the song "Over in the Meadow," a sometimes-strained rhyming text introduces ten animals and their babies in different river environments. Large, beautiful cut-paper collages encourage counting to ten and contain hidden creatures. Each spread includes a map showing the river location and the numeral. Facts about rivers and the featured animals, author and illustrator's notes, and musical notation are appended. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
From one manatee calf paddling in Florida's St. Johns River to 10 otter pups sliding in the Mississippi, Berkes adapts the familiar counting rhyme to introduce river animals, their "baby" names, their actions and some U.S. geography. Sixth in a series of predictable, successful titles based on "Over in the Meadow," this one adds to the learning mix. Each spread includes the animal and its one to 10 young, shown in their environment; a hidden, additional animal; a map with the river labeled; a numeral; and one to 10 cattails as well as the appropriate verse. The final spread presents a large map of the United States with each river and its respective animal(s) labeled. Extensive backmatter includes an illustrator's note describing Dubin's research and methods for making her cut-paper collages, which are enhanced with pastels. As in other books in the series, the author's note points out that while the actions and baby names are correct, these animals may live elsewhere as well, and they don't necessarily bear that exact number of young. There is further information about the animals and rivers described, suggested activities, and a page with the song and chords. Fitting the words to music can be tricky; those who plan to sing this should practice first, but they will be rewarded by a storytime audience filled with standing herons, waddling ducks, whirling dragonflies and squealing kits. (Informational picture book. 3-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
