At the Pond

At the Pond observes a single area of water over time, as if an unmoving camera were installed above. This unique picture book concept may not sound like a particularly exciting story, and you would be right, but that is far from a bad thing. What the reader gets instead is an engaging, yet meditative book that is gorgeously illustrated.

From the words alone, one could call this a counting book. Indeed, the first few pages, using lightly rhyming text, are simply counting an ever-growing number of goldfish. This is interrupted at seven when a mourning dove appears, startling the fish who then disappear from view. Once the bird leaves, the fish come back in ever greater numbers, and the count continues only to be stopped again at ten when a great blue heron flies overhead. This time, the frogs go into hiding alongside the fish. When everyone comes back, the text happily announces, “We start to count them all over again!” And here lies the only criticism to be found in this review: The enthusiasm of the last line is somewhat jarring, considering the overall quiet tone of the book. Knowing that an exclamation mark appears at the end of the book may colour how the story is read in subsequent readings, moving the tone from peaceful to suspenseful or dramatic, which would be a shame.

The illustrations in this title are simply beautiful. Every spread features full-bleed, watercolour paintings. The reader is fully immersed in this watery environment which encourages them to pick out details and feel like a part of the story. It is also refreshing to see a picture book that features artwork created using a single medium. Mixed media has become standard in picture books, which is lovely, but it is nice to see something a little different every once in a while. The use of light and shadow is well done. The clouds that accompany a light rain darken the pond on one spread, as does the passing of the heron overhead later on in the book. The illustrations are far from busy, but there are a few little details that readers will enjoy picking out, such as the frogs’ movements and the appearance (and then disappearance) of water striders.

While At the Pond is a lovely book that deserves deep appreciation, its kid appeal is not universal. This should not be surprising considering its content. Children who are drawn more naturally to art will be immediately engaged while those who prefer action or humour in their books may require more effort to convince. The addition of backmatter, which discusses each of the creatures that appear in the illustrations, adds interest for animal lovers or those who are more scientifically minded.

A visually impressive picture book, At the Pond, is perfect for quiet time or just before bed.