It’s My Pond is a delightful picture book from Claire Garralon, translated from its original French by Sarah Ardizzone.
Garralon’s narrative is filled with charm and wit as we witness a team of ducks negotiate how to share the lovely blue pond. When it’s just yellow duck – ‘It’s my pond!’ – all is right with the world.
Then white duck comes along… white’s solution appears obvious – split the pond in two. A third duck appears – no problem? Divide it into 3, of course! Fabulous ducks of all hues come along until…
‘Little by little,
ducks of every colour
split the pond
into tiny bits and pieces.’
When black duck appears he highlights their problem, none of them are actually enjoying their minuscule piece of the pond. He has a solution. A wonderful idea. But then hippo turns up… yikes!
There’s a wonderful layer of wit to Garralon’s writing. Brilliantly nuanced, her narrative pulls the reader into a story that will leave you smiling. Those wonderfully coloured ducks, with those hooks atop their heads, evoke the wonder of fairgrounds and amusements set against the brilliant blue of that all important pond.
As you’d expect from Book Island, this picture book is beautifully produced with wonderfully thick pages and a gorgeous cover.
It’s My Pond is a delightful picture book about sharing and working together. Perfect for little listeners.
Leave a Reply