On the first page of At the Pond, the red-winged blackbird spreads his tail and greets the sunrise. The ducks fly over the pond, and the bullfrog leaps into the pond. There is also a person in a kayak. For each page the pond comes to life with all of the wildlife from ducks and ducklings, Old Harry the catfish, beautiful orange water lilies open up for the dawn of day. A tadpole is shown in stages from a polliwog to a frog. At the bottom of the pond a snapping turtle waits for minnows to swim by. This is a great picture book that teaches children about pond life and would be great for any collection. It is a great poetic tribute to the pond and the illustrations are colorful and precise. ( )