The Noisy Puddle is a wonderfully illustrated book about a small eco-system. I had not heard the term "Vernal Pool" and the title "Noisy Puddle" had my grandkids questioning. They only knew puddles as the small stands of water they splashed in, so this was new to them. This book has a pair of siblings walking in the forest near their home in the spring. They listen and notice things are changing when they come across the puddle. There they see all kinds of life such as wood frogs and ducks, eggs and spotted salamanders, pond skaters and toads and turtles (just an aside, my granddaughter immediately commented that sometimes there are pond skaters in my pool). The illustrations are wonderful with some closeups and all the creatures named. It also explains briefly what happens to the pond during the other seasons. I don't know it there will be other books for each season or not, but if there are, I would definitely get them to share with my grandkids. The illustrations were wonderful. Miki Sato is a mixed media illustrator who uses a variety of papers and fabrics to create layered, three-dimensional illustrations, and they came to life in this book. I'm not sure if this would be classified as Non-fiction as it has the story element of the children, but it is certainly a good teaching book. The text is a lyrical rhyming format that read aloud easily and I can see this book being used in primary classrooms to introduce eco-systems.

This is a wonderfully engaging book that will be a great read aloud to any kids at story time, particularly with a nature craft or seasons project. The illustrations remind me of Leo Lionni books and illustrations in the best way. The rhyming makes it an engaging read for teachers and children alike and will make it a strong read aloud choice. I could also see this being used in a biology classroom -- the end includes information about vernal pools--whether for young students or as an introduction in a high school classroom. This is definitely worth adding to your school, classroom, or public library collection!

Every child should have a copy of The Noisy Puddle in their library. There are so many books today that are slapped together and are nothing more than trash! There is no doubt that this book is a classic. Children learn something valuable about animals and their behavior through this book. Find out what creatures live in a vernal pool throughout the year, whether there is water or not. Rhyming words and amazing descriptive word choices make for an engrossing read. Stunning illustrations by Miki Sato are beyond compare. I am blown away by her attention to detail and her work. Simply looking at the illustrations tells the whole story.

Learn about the creatures that make their home in a vernal pool throughout a year whether there is water there or not.

This is an ecosystem that many readers will have seen in their lives, but may not know the special name for or how they are important to animals in the area. I don’t know of any other books on this topic. It is easy to read, there’s backmatter for those who want a little more, and the collage illustrations are done in such a lifelike way that readers can learn to identify real animals from meeting them here. A good pick for curious readers and those doing ecosystem units.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Noisy Pond


Frogs and shrimp and insects-oh my! A seasonal pool may not last all year but it teems with life-and sound-part of the year. These mini ecosystems are a vital part of the overall environment of the forest. This beautifully illustrated book tells about it. Kindergarten-eighth grade school libraries and public libraries serving homeschool situations will find this a worthwhile addition to their collections.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A lovely book about what happens in a puddle. You will find all the animals that enjoy the puddle and how they enjoy it. I especially love the illustrations.

I LOVED the pictures in this book! It was my favorite thing about this, and it made looking and reading the book so much more fun. Because of this “scrapbook” like picture as I like to call it, it keeps the readers engaged. Loved the rhyming of the book as well. Easy book to follow as you go through season change.

The Noisy Puddle: A Vernal Pool Through the Seasons (Hardcover)
by Linda Booth Sweeney
A good ecology, or seasonal science book for elementary education. This book would be a great resource for science classrooms, as the students can come back year after year adding to their understanding of seasons, or ecology. I can also be a resource for research projects in elementary schools. The students can look at the botany shown with the flora a d fauna and how they interact over the cycle of a year.
The artwork is representational and very detailed, it shows a remarkable diversity of light, and composition.

The Noisy Puddle is a great way to help young readers explore the seasons by observing their surroundings in nature. Beautifully illustrated, the text is inviting and attainable for young readers. Teachers and parents will also enjoy sharing this story with children. A book that they will reach for over and over as a new favorite!

I thoroughly enjoyed this simple, yet well done, picture book of nature through the cycle of the seasons. The artwork is beautifully done and adds to the book rather than taking away.

What a terrifically wonderful story! It’s presented in simple rhyming words that are fun and easy to understand. Yet it is the use of the simple words that the whole world at the puddle comes alive for the reader. Wonderfully different approach to teaching kids all that goes on around them while not being preachy.
I received this ebook for free from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I love a kid's book with a good rhyming scheme and this one is awesome. The story follows a puddle and how it changes through the seasons.
My kids loved the pictures and loved looking at all the different animals featured in the words and pictures.
Very cute with bright pictures.

The Noisy Puddle follows a puddle through the different seasons and showcases the wildlife throughout its surroundings. I think children who enjoy nature or woodland animals/insects will enjoy this book. The illustrations were beautiful.

I received a DRC from Owlkids Books | Owlkids via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the illustrations in this book. They are paper cutouts so they add depth to the page which is interesting. I liked that the story goes through the different seasons and lets kids see what happens. I could see this as a scavenger hunt through the seasons with kids looking in real life for the different insects and plant life mentioned in the book.

'The Noisy Puddle' by Linda Booth Sweeney is a beautiful book with easy prose. The illustrations are multi-media like and lovely. Perfect for nature lovers.

This book will be perfect for nature lovers to explore with their kids. The illustrations are engaging and the information presented is laid out clearly and logically. The vernal pond area within the forest is shown throughout each season, including other forest creatures that live around these bodies of water. Sometimes dormant and sometimes bursting with life, both seen and unseen. These little puddles are vital to the ecosystem and this book shares the secrets to be found within.

The Noisy Puddle is one I’ll have to buy. I loved the 3D look of the art work which was cut paper and cloth. It’s all about vernal pools in different seasons and the life found there. It would be a fun one to take on a walk in the woods.

This unique take on the life cycle of a specific puddle type gave a thorough understanding of the details of the life cycle over a year without being overwhelming. Multiple points where additional exploration could be encouraged, I would recommend this for a classroom library for 1st through 3rd grade.