Awards

Reviews

Most humans share the experience of a mosquito bite. The Web at Dragonfly Pond begins with the common event of a mosquito bite ending with a far less common event, fresh caught bass for dinner. Boyhood reflections epitomize the food web and how humans are an integral part of the predator-prey relationship. From cover to cover, captivating illustrations visually invite the casual peruser into the book, all the while sharing an essential science lesson on the food web. The Web at Dragonfly Pond is a must for child-oriented life science interpreters. Ideal for indoor or outdoor story time, The Web at Dragonfly Pond will make a great addition to early childhood and elementary teachers’ lassroom library. This book can be correlated to science standards involving characteristics and interactions of living organisms generating science inquiry pertaining to the ecology of human impact in an aquatic community.

— Wendy Ziegler – Environmental Educator & Reviewer (January 2008)

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Imagine a conversation between a boy and his father about fishing and all the wonders that this experience might convey, and you will have this perfectly delightful and educational story. The young narrator weaves a fascinating tale of how he learned about the ecosystems surrounding ponds while fishing with his dad. Nature lovers will enjoy the easy transitions showing the value of all the creatures from mosquitoes to frogs to fish, with the dragonfly in center stage. The boy’s father gently explains the roles of the animals in the web, including how humans interact within this particular ecosystem. As he listens to his dad’s explanations, the boy expresses his sense of wonder and then understanding of how nature works. The language of the story is colorful and flows in the manner of a storyteller. The pictures are captivating and add to further understanding of nature. The end of the book includes “A Day on Dragonfly Pond,” with additional factual information and some simple things kids could do to further explore animals and nature. This would make a great addition to a primary collection of read-aloud science books about the fragile relationships in a pond ecosystem. It will become a favorite.

— Library Media Connection – Janie E. Stokes (January 2007)

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In this autobiographical story, the author tells of a day spent fishing with his dad and learning about the web of life. The story begins with Ellis himself falling prey to mosquitos, and proceeds up the trophic ladder to a dragonfly, a frog and, finally, the black bass that father and son take home for dinner. Maydak’s colorful and realistic illustrations enhance the message that all of life is bound together.

— Green Teacher (Summer 2008)