Seasons of the freshwater pond biome

This entry in the Biomes series introduces the freshwater pond and the life forms that comprise it. First, Duke defines pond with delightful simplicity: A pond forms when a shallow hole fills with rain or running water. She then transitions into four chapters that focus on different elements: how this biome changes with the seasons, the plants of the biome, the animals of the biome, and how readers can help keep freshwater ponds from harm. Generally the information is solid and uses relatable language to deliver simple but still quite interesting facts: Dead plant matter sinks in the pond. It decays, adding to the muddy bottom. The chapter on seasons could have broken out each season with more definition, but the info scans nonetheless. The photos are uniformly great, from panoramic shots of green (or snowy) landscapes to extreme close-ups of midflight dragonflies and frog heads poking up from the algae. This makes the concluding chapter make sense why wouldn't kids want to keep such vibrant areas in tip-top shape?--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2014 Booklist