WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY: The Noisy Puddle by Linda Booth Sweeney & Miki Sato
ABOUT THE BOOK
A lyrical dip into the noisy, magical world of a vernal pool.
In this vibrant and poetic informational picture book, two curious siblings observe the hidden world of a vernal a special kind of puddle habitat that pops up in the spring, dries up by summer, reappears in the fall, and freezes over in the winter—only to come back again in the spring. Young naturalists and future water stewards will be encouraged to listen, watch, and wait to witness the seasonal changes of the ever-changing puddle and its inhabitants. As readers follow along with the rhythmic text, they will be fascinated to discover many familiar and not-so-familiar creatures that make up the surprising web of interrelationships living in these vital pop-up pools. With buoyant, lyrical text and beautiful cut-paper collage illustrations, The Noisy Puddle is an immersive introduction to “now-you-see-me, now-you-don’t” wetland habitats.
REVIEW
The Noisy Puddle combines gorgeous collage illustrations with Sweeney's poetic text. A brother and sister ramble through the woods, observing the changes that a vernal pool undergoes through the four seasons. Highlighting both the animals the live in and around the pool as well as the changing conditions, the book presents readers with a glimpse into a microcosm of life. Tadpoles, water boatmen, ducks, turtles, and other insects take advantage of the small ecosystem until it dries up and disappears during the summer. The fall rains bring the puddle back to life in time to freeze providing shelter to earthworms, beetles, flies, frogs, and salamanders. Until the ice melts and more rain bring the puddle back to life as the cycle begins once again. Additional information is included in the back matter. A beautiful, well-documented book that provides a glimpse into one of the world's small, seemingly insignificant wonders. This book just begs to be read out loud.
Thank you for such a thoughtful review! I do believe that reviews like this will mean that more children will discover these hidden pop-up pools, be fascinated by them, and maybe even work to protect them as they grow older.
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