Hello, friends! How are you today? Are you having fun and eating yummy snacks? I hope you’re ready to read a wonderful story with us! Today, we have a special book called “Over and Under the Pond” by Kate Messner. Let’s dive into the story together!
Imagine we’re on a little boat, gliding over a pond. The water is like a shiny mirror, showing us the sky and clouds. But guess what? There’s a whole world under the pond too! Let’s find out what’s there.
As we move over the pond, we see lily pads and tall plants called reeds. Little beetles dance on the water, and turtles rest on a log. They splash into the water when we get close. Can you count the turtles? One, two, three!
Under the pond, tiny fish called minnows swim around. There are also crayfish, turtles, and frogs hiding. It’s like a secret underwater world!
We see birds flying by, carrying grass to build their nests. A big moose looks up from his lunch as we pass by. The wind helps us move, and we see a little bird getting ready to fly for the first time. How exciting!
Under the pond, tadpoles are growing up. They’re turning into frogs! Beavers dive deep to find tasty roots, and otters look for yummy mussels to eat.
As the sun sets, we head back to shore. We hear loons saying goodnight, and the sky turns dark. The pond is full of life, both over and under the water.
Wasn’t that a fun adventure? We learned so much about the pond and all the animals that live there!
Now, let’s explore another book called “Meet the Wild.” It’s all about the amazing things we can find in nature!
When you step outside, nature is everywhere! In winter, the world is frosty and sparkly. In spring, flowers bloom, and bees buzz around. Summer brings sunny days and fun at the beach. In fall, leaves change colors, and we find apples and pumpkins.
Nature is full of fun things to do! You can splash in puddles, climb rocks, and feel the earth under your feet. Every season has something special to explore.
Isn’t nature wonderful? It’s always waiting for us to discover its beauty!
Thank you for joining us for storytime today. We hope you enjoyed the stories and learned something new. Have a great day, and see you next time! Bye-bye!
Pond Observation Walk: Take a walk to a nearby pond or park with a water feature. Encourage the children to observe what they see both over and under the water. Ask them to look for birds, insects, and plants above the water and try to spot fish or other creatures below. After the walk, have a discussion about what they observed. Ask questions like, “What animals did you see over the pond?” and “What do you think lives under the water?”
Create a Pond Diorama: Provide the children with materials like shoeboxes, colored paper, clay, and craft supplies to create their own pond diorama. Encourage them to include both over and under the pond elements, such as lily pads, turtles, fish, and frogs. This hands-on activity will help them visualize and understand the different layers of life in a pond.
Seasonal Nature Hunt: Organize a nature hunt where children can explore the changes in nature across different seasons. Provide them with a checklist of items to find, such as colorful leaves in fall, blooming flowers in spring, or snowflakes in winter. After the hunt, discuss how the pond and its surroundings change with the seasons and how animals adapt to these changes.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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[Music]
Hi everyone! Welcome back to Storytime Family. How’s everyone doing today? Are you doing well? Have you been eating lots of healthy snacks and reading lots of books by yourself? I hope you’re all settled and ready to read a book with us today. We have “Over and Under the Pond” by Kate Messner, with art by Christopher Silas Neal. Let’s check it out, shall we?
**Over and Under the Pond**
Over the pond, we slide, splashing through lily pads, sweeping through reeds. The water’s a mirror reflecting the sky, sunshine, and clouds. Then a shadow below—what’s down there? I asked. Under the pond, Mom says, is a whole hidden world of minnows, crayfish, turtles, and bullfrogs. We’re paddling over them now.
Over the pond, we skim past tall rushes. Whirligig beetles loop and twirl, skaters on a warm summer surface. Under the pond, minnows dart through waving forests of grass while a brook trout lurks, ready to lunge. Over the pond, we lift and dip and pull past a row of painted turtles on a waterlogged tree. One, two, three—they slip off and away. Splash, gurgle, sploosh!
Under the pond, cattails rustle and hush in the wind. Listen closely—red-winged blackbirds race by. One has grass for her nest. Under the pond, a caddisfly larva builds a home of her own, a secret shelter of pebbles and sand. Over the pond, the shadows of trees lean out from the shore. We coast under a low-hanging branch. A moose looks up with a mouthful of water. We’ve interrupted his lunch.
Under the pond, beavers dive deep. They pump with powerful tails and rise to the surface with delectable roots from the mud. Over the pond, the wind gives us a push and stirs the light-dappled leaves on shore. There on a branch, a new goldfinch teeters, finally ready to fly.
Under the pond, tadpoles are changing, learning to hop. They’re losing tails, growing legs, growing up. Over the pond, there at the shore, tall and silent, a great blue heron stares down into the deep. It tenses, takes one long-legged step, and strikes. It catches a wiggling minnow from where it was hiding.
Over the pond, we drift, heads tipped to the sun. A woodpecker clings to a tethering pine, digging for ants. Under the pond, an otter hunts for freshwater mussels. Over the pond, a sleepy dragonfly lands. Its spiny legs tickle my knee. Under the pond, dragonflies watch what swims by. They catch minnows in monster-fast jaws.
Over the pond, the shadows stretch. Ospreys circle on quiet wings. Raccoons and mink stalk the shoreline for supper. Under the pond, with a flip of a tail, a crayfish disappears in the dark. Over the pond, we head for home. We glide, swish, bump right up onto shore as far-off loons call goodnight. The sky turns from sunset to dusk to dark. Night settles over the pond—the prowling catfish, drowsy turtles, scuttling crayfish, waiting herons, and stalking raccoons in the hidden world under the pond.
And that was “Over and Under the Pond.” I hope you learned some new things from this book. I certainly did! If you enjoyed this book and would like to own a copy, the link to purchase it is in the description below. Thank you so much for joining us today! Give us a like and subscribe, and click on the bell for more stories like this. You take care now, and see you back here soon! Bye-bye!
[Music]
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**Meet the Wild** by Lindsay Keller Madson and me, Freydard. Let’s check it out, shall we?
**Meet the Wild**
The day you meet the wild, it might peek inside your door while dancing shadows seem to say, “Just wait and see, there’s more.” A winter walk together through the swirling frosty air reveals a chilly, sparkling world. The wild is everywhere.
Through prickly pines and melting snow, the wild shows you the way and sparks your curiosity with smells, textures, and play. Then springtime air is humming as the bees buzz by, and peaceful minutes drift away in warmer sunny skies with hatching friends and budding trees. The wild blooms fresh and new.
Your busy little fingers have so many things to do. Some days go patter and are messy, muddy fun. The splash of boots and puddles shows joy for everyone. The summer ripens food to eat that grows up from the land. This rainbow of new colors, this rainbow of new flavors, can be squished inside your hand.
Some sticky days of sun and wind are spent down by the beach. The waves play tag with sandy toes while silly seagulls screech. A shady hill invites your feet to bravely grip the rocks and notice how the earth can feel without your shoes and socks. Leaves roll in across the ground; ripe apples, pears, and pumpkins are bright treasures to be found.
Dry sticks beg to be bundled through the golden paths you roam. You build and play in your own way when nature feels like home. The passing of the seasons brings so much you will explore. The wild is always waiting outside every open door.
And that was “Meet the Wild.” Wasn’t that beautiful? Have you had your time in the wild today? Perhaps basking under the sun just for a couple of minutes? It does make you happier! If you enjoyed this book and would like to own a copy, the links to purchase it are in our description below. Do give us a like and subscribe if you haven’t, and click on the bell for more stories like this. Thank you so much for taking time out to read with us. We really appreciate it! We’ll see you back here soon. You take care and have a super day! Bye-bye!
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