Spring Into Pond
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Bruster's dialogue is in red print, Alicia's in purple print, and Alexander's in green print.
Hoppie, what are you doing in our pitcher of lemonade?
It is very impolite to stereotype anyone with a pet name. Actually, my name is Alexander Pole.
Okay Alexander Pole, what are you doing in our pitcher of
lemonade?
Well, I was hopping around on your picnic table and
temptation overcame me.
But you’re a frog, not an ice cube, and I think it is
very impolite of you to place yourself in our beverage.
I apologize. But it
is soooo refreshing.
Now I suppose you expect us to provide a straw so that it’s
easier for you to have a sip.
No need for sarcasm.
Anyway, I don’t need a straw. I
absorb liquids through my skin.
Well then perhaps you’d prefer to have found a bowl of a
more suitable liquid on the table in which you could have immersed yourself and
enhanced your dining pleasure.
I know that you’re still being sarcastic, but actually, I’d
prefer a bowl of gazpacho.
What is gazpacho?
It’s a very tasty cold soup that is made with cucumbers,
tomatoes, peppers, and onions.
I’m sorry, but my culinary skills are quite limited.
In that case, perhaps you could consider building a pond for
me and covering it with tons of water lilies.
You can’t be serious.
I can dream, can’t I?
Alicia, what do you think? I
know that I couldn’t begin to build a pond without your help and advice.
Well…, Alexander does seem like a nice frog. I think it would be fun to build a pond for
him. Let’s do it!
Oh, you make me uncontrollably happy! Ribbit!
Ribbit! Ribbit!
Get a grip, Alexander.
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Book Details
About the Book
Children who listen to or read this story will benefit from reflecting on the underlying ideas with a parent or teacher. Humor and positive interactions between the characters are used to introduce scientific notions, mathematical terminology, organizational skills, and problem-solving techniques. This is in the spirit of National Science Education Standards recommendations under K-4 Science and Technology Content Standard E. Fertile ground is provided for developing an appreciation for the views of others and for the productivity inherent in cooperative effort.
About the Author
Bob Tyler received his PhD in Mathematics from Syracuse University in 1971 and taught mathematics at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania until his retirement in 2002, when he received the Susquehanna Award for Distinguished Teaching. Since retirement he has written a country song, a dialog explaining the meaning of different orders of infinity, and this book. He is currently working on a second country song. His interest in writing children’s stories comes from the many hours of enjoyment he had in creating bedtime stories for and with his own children.