Butternut Hollow Pond

Yes, the book starts off as a cute story about animals getting eaten, but students will catch onto the theme of the food chain. It allows the students to think about each organism, what they eat, and their relationship with other organisms. They can think about how and why each organism has it's place on the food web.

Author: Brian J. Heinz
Illustrator: Bob Marstall
Year Published: 2006
ISBN: 0822559935

Summary

The story is about a day at the pond and focusing on its organisms. It show how each organism fits on the food chain of the pond ecosystem. Smaller animals are shown first and the animals get larger as the food chain gets further along. It shows that even on a seemingly quiet day, the pond is still full of action.

Evaluation

Appropriateness: High
Authority: High
Accuracy: High
Liteary Artistry: High
Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

Yes. The students can ask themselves why each organism gets eaten or hunted and why other organisms are the predator. They can think about why each organism needs food. They can ask about the vocabulary such as "dainty" and "roosts".

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

Yes. Students can predict what is going to happen to each animal. They can think about why each organism plays a specific role in the ecosystem. They can think about the relationships between organisms. They can think about the organisms' diets.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

Yes. This book is a good way to introduce the topic of energy transfer, food chains, and predator/ prey relationships. Starting with this book will leave students with questions about the topic that can be discussed. This book can also lead into an explore activity where students can create their own food chains.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

Based on the food chain. Shows predator and prey relationships. Shows the diet of organisms. Accurate depiction of each.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

Not clearly because this story can happen in the wild and that might confuse children. Having a discussion about the genre of the book will help students understand why the book is fiction rather than fact.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

Yes, you can see each and every organism mentioned in the pictures. You can also see which animals are nocturnal vs diurnal. The illustrations will definitely help students who are confused and assist them in comprehending the text.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

I think it will be a little harder to understand the vocabulary at earlier grade levels but they will still be able to understand the concept. Questions asked during the reading will help guide students through the book. The illustrations will also be a key factor in comprehension.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

There is no multicultural component because it's all about organisms in a pond ecosystem. There is also no stereotyping depicted in the story.

Is the book free from gender bias?

Yes, nothing is mentioned about gender except for the animal mothers that have babies.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

Not really, no other disciplines are mentioned in the story. It could be slightly related to math because of the size of the creatures compared to each other.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

Yes. The story depicts a fun version of the food chain. The organisms start small at first and work their way up to larger organisms. The flow of energy can be discussed as each animal is eaten.

Science Topics

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Maximum Suggested Grade Level