The WEB is a metaphor for the linking together of life in a pond, from the newly hatched dragonfly who snatches the mosquito, to the frog who gulps the dragonfly just after she lays hundreds of eggs, to the bass who swallows the frog. And there is a father-son fishing story, too. As the boy observes and interacts with his father and the natural scene (ouch! swat!), he also records his thoughts and feelings. Larger-than-life, dramatic and realistic, page'n a half illustrations move the fish dinner to its thought-provoking conclusion: "In my blood flows the song of the birds, the buzz of mosquito. Inside me is the hum of the dragonfly's wing, the croak of the frog, and the splash of the large mouth bass. And because I fed a mosquito, something of my life flows in all of them." Along the way, scientific concepts of interdependency, links of the food chain, and life cycles are interwoven with the good catch story. If you want more meat about culex pipiens (mosquito) or rana catesbeina (bullfrog), read the addendum. Read-aloud and quiet moment book.

The Web at Dragonfly Pond is a delightfully illustrated tale both entertaining and educational. Drawn from a boy's memories of fishing with his father, the book also provides accurate information about the life cycle of dragonflies and other members of the food chain at Dragonfly Pond. The illustrations are vibrant and fit in with each step of the story. A great read for the fisherman father and son!

If you are looking for a way to teach your students about the food web and the interconnectedness of life, this title is an excellent choice. The main character, a young boy, is fishing with the father on Dragonfly Pond. There he witnesses the food chain in the form of a bass, a bullfrog, a dragonfly, and a mosquito. Woven throughout are scientific concepts such as predator-prey relationships, insect behavior, biotic features of the pond, and more. Appended is a double-page spread detailing the organisms featured in the book. The accompanying illustrations are realistic and full of action and detail.

The Web at Dragonfly Pond provides a substantial amount of information embedded in a story that follows a logical sequence and is fun to read. The additional information about the main characters at the end of the book is very helpful. It and the description and illustrations of all the animals around and above the pond as the sun begins to set offer possibilities for deeper investigation of each. The illustrations powerfully show the reality of the food web and the interconnectedness of life.

Ellis recounts childhood adventures that he experienced with his father on fishing trips. He weaves these adventures together into one pivotal excursion where he encounters mosquitoes, dragonflies, frogs, and fish. On this same experience, he witnesses the "web of life" and ecosystem of a pond. Because of the many scientific facts, this would be a beneficial tool during a science lesson. Positive elements of this book include the scientific information woven into the story; the portrayal of a healthy, loving relationship between a boy and his father; the visually appealing illustrations; and the last section of the book, "A Day on Dragonfly Pond," explaining further scientific information about plants, insects, amphibians, and fish...

A buzzing mosquito is the unlikely vehicle that takes the reader from a boy's delightful day on a summer pond with his father into the web of life that sustains us all. The Web at Dragonfly Pond drives home an ecological world view that emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things.

The story of a boy and his father fishing together not only conveys strong family values but also envelopes scientific concepts.

The Web at Dragonfly Pond reminds us that children possess an innate connection to wild things in wet places. Share this compelling story, then go outside and visit the waters near your home for an adventure that will last a lifetime.

Not only is this a loving autobiographical story of a father sharing his knowledge while fishing with his son, it provides accurate information about the members of the food chain at Dragonfly Pond.

What a wonderful educational tool that parents and teachers can read to make their children aware of our precious environment.

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' classroom library. This book can be correlated generating science inquiry pertaining to the ecology of human impact in an aquatic community.