Explore the entire pond habitat in this beautiful picture book. Wildlife and plants come to life with mixed-media illustrations and a lyrical story. The book also includes a glossary of animals that live in and around the pond. Read this one with early elementary kids and look for more titles from this series that explore the rainforest, a canyon, soil, and snow.

This collection of poems celebrates the beauty and mystery of the creatures that call a pond home. Children will read several types of poetry: rhyming, unrhymed, haiku, and various arrangements. There’s also a paragraph of information included with each poem to explain the science behind the pond. Woodcut illustrations in seasonal colors make this book come full circle. Read it with elementary children.

Join Buddy and his mom as they explore the pond! They’ll see lily pads, salamanders, dragonflies, and much more. Buddy even takes along his sketch pad so that he can draw the new things he discovers. This is a great book to read to young elementary kids. After reading, go on your own adventure to a local pond!

A classic story that many parents may remember from their childhood! This story features repetitive text that kids will love to read with you. It introduces several animals, but keeps the story simple. It’s a great pick for toddlers and preschoolers.

Pick up this book for your beginning reader. Each page features eye-catching photographs and a line of simple text. Kids will learn about the pond ecosystem and the animals that live there. A vocabulary list is included, too, so you can discuss specific words with your child. It’s a nice introductory book for late preschoolers and early elementary kids.

This picture book provides a kid-friendly overview of a dragonfly’s metamorphosis. There’s a lot of scientific information, but it’s all presented at a preschool and kindergarten level. There’s a bit of humor included to keep a lighthearted feel to the book. Plus, the watercolor illustrations done in soft colors mimic the light and airy feel of a dragonfly.

This Caldecott Honor Book uses rhymes and brightly colored pictures to take a look at a pond from a frog’s point of view. Kids will see ducks waddle, tadpoles wriggle, and much more! Each season is featured, ending with winter and the frog curled up in the mud deep below the water. This is an energetic book that’s perfect for preschoolers.

Frog is not happy about being a frog. He’d rather be an owl, a pig, or even a cat. But, when a hungry wolf comes along, Frog changes his perspective. This book is silly, but it also presents a great opportunity to discuss identity and self-confidence with your children. Enjoy reading this one with your preschoolers and early elementary kids.

Give babies and young toddlers a book they can use in any way they want. Read it, chew it, throw it—it won’t rip or get ruined! This one is wordless, so you can make up your own stories for each pond animal that’s featured. Kids will see a swan in the water, a frog on a lily pad, a turtle on a log, and other interesting creatures, too!

The One Small Square series gives children the chance to take an extra up-close view of a habitat. This one focuses on the pond. There are extensive illustrations throughout the book and the text offers a wealth of information about this unique ecosystem. Plus, there are a few suggestions for activities you can do at home to extend the learning experience. Take in this book a few pages at a time with kids ages 5-9.

A little girl lives in the city with a river full of mallard ducks right outside her window. Throughout the book, she observes the ducks and appreciates their unique characteristics. Each page features a few kid-friendly facts about ducks too. It’s a gentle book with a scientific heart, making it perfect for kids ages 4-8.

A young boy wants to see what’s going on below the surface of his pond. So, he grabs some equipment and dives in! He’ll see fish, sharks, and even a sunken treasure, too! The further he goes, the more magical things become. When he returns to the surface, things are completely different. Read this book to inspire imagination, curiosity, and a sense of adventure in your little one! It’s a great pick for preschoolers and early elementary kids.

Learn to count with these adorable turtles! Ten turtles are sitting in the sun next to the pond but, one by one, they jump right in. The last few pages provide a brief description of a few of the animals that live in and around the pond. There’s even instructions for making painted leaf prints. This is a fun book that any preschooler would enjoy!

This board book is just the right size for toddlers and young preschoolers. They’ll love the finger-puppet fish who swims alongside the shiny rocks and the tall weeds. Little ones will be drawn to the brightly colored illustrations and the simple story.

This take-along guide covers dozens of species of frogs, toads, and turtles. Each page lists a specific type of animal and provides details about what it looks like, where it lives, and what it eats. The detailed illustrations add interest for kids who may be intimidated by big blocks of text. Tips for observing these animals are included, too. There are tons of facts here, so we recommend this one for upper elementary kids.