Pond

We loved the beauty of this book, in word and illustration. It captures the essence of childhood imagination and helps adults remember the simplicity of childhood and inspires children to play, imagine and create.

Jim LaMarche has long been a favorite illustrator of mine. His pictures are so gorgeous and serene, especially the nature ones. In Pond, Matt discovers a small spring in a damaged area that inspires him to try restoring the pond that once existed. With the help of his friend Pablo, and his sister, Katie, as well as his father, Matt works hard to recreate the pond. And with hard work and dedication, they succeed. I found it delightful to watch the pond come back to life. It was fun spotting the animals as they returned as well as following the kids as they restored an old boat and sailed on the pond. The illustrations I could have stared at for hours. In a book that shows the power of the human will to rebuild what people have damaged, the illustrations stand out as much as the pond does. One of my favorites for the year.

We love this book. The art and story are both beautiful. Totally worth owning and reading again and again.

I am now purchasing all of Jim MaLarche's books. The illustrations in this book are unbelievable. I wish I could find prints of some of these pages to hang on my children's walls. They're spectacular.The book has quickly become a favorite for our family. Its refreshing to read a story with a real plot, diverse characters, elements of nature, and amazing images. So much more fun for all of us than reading a lot of the boring kids books we have these days.

Three suburban kids undertake to turn a neighborhood "pit" into the pond it once was-- a terrific example of making the world a better place, one small step at a time. The gorgeous illustrations and hints of magical realism in the story add warmth and charm to this important message. I love that my five-year-old granddaughter brings this picture book out for a reading every time she comes over-- maybe on some level, she gets it!

Pretty and amazing!All Charlotte masons kids will love tbat!

Jim LaMarche is a premier illustrator of children's books, and the ones he writes himself are so good, I wish he would write more of them. LaMarche's books focus on children getting to know the natural world and interacting with it at the same time they are protecting it. Great lessons for young ones. I like that fact that an adult also spends time with the children, although they step back for most of the books and let the kids find their own way. They are easy enough to read to a 3-year-old and good enough to be appreciated by a child as he or she grows older. Keep writing Mr. LaMarche!

I love this tale of an East coast childhood - a message of love and caring for the environment, and for friends - and the notion that that message had been sent (in the recurring heart shape) from the earlier makers and keepers of the "Pond." The children are allowed some independence in the story which I especially loved - what times we had in the woods of New Canaan - at Nancy's Pond and Nancy's Mountain. Streams and ponds, boulders and trees and the freedom to be among them unattended!

Such a beautiful living , large, book with exceptionally good art. The pages are soft and looks fantastic on a book stand on the kitchen table. I read this book to a child and actually yearned for it after we finished reading. I wanted to continue following the story of those adventurous and creative young people. Such a joy to read

Meraviglioso!