Over in a River from Dawn Publications
Over in a River: Flowing out to the Sea (Dawn Publications; Paperback, $8.95; Hardcover, $16.95; Ages 3-8), written by Marianne Berkes and illustrated by Jill Dubin, is reviewed today by Rita Zobayan.
Over in a River is a thin book fat with rhythm, beautiful art, and information on the geography and wildlife inhabitants of ten North American rivers. Listed for ages 3-8, there are plenty of activities and content to entertain and educate the range of that age group.
For younger children, this is a counting book (numbers 1-10) with each river’s and creature’s information presented in descriptive rhyme scheme. The words are chosen carefully, describing the animals’ homes, behavior, and correct baby names. As a bonus, there is a hidden native animal in each habitat just waiting to be spotted! Older readers will pick up on all that information, but will also notice the map and geographic locations of each of the rivers.
For the Colorado River:
Over in a river/In their lodge built with sticks/Lived a busy mother beaver/And her little kits six./”Gnaw,” said the mother./”We gnaw,” said the six./So they gnawed on bark/Near their lodge built with sticks.
The paper collage artwork is colorful, textured, and detailed. The animals seem almost alive. Look at the playful Mississippi River otters that seem to be sliding down the river and off the page right to the reader!
In addition to the entertaining and educational rhyme, the book is chockfull of information that parents and teachers can use to educate children on river life (or older children can read for themselves). How rivers are flow, watersheds and tributaries are explained, as are specific details about the ten rivers (Hudson, Rio Grande, Sacramento, and Mississippi, to name a few). Further information on the river inhabitants—manatees, great blue herons, mallards, dragonflies, pacific tree frogs, and more—can be found. Did you know that manatees migrate to different areas as temperatures change or that muskrats build the entrances to their homes underwater?
Both the author Marianne Berkes and the illustrator Jill Dubin include tips, such as activities, discussion topics, and art projects to extend children’s knowledge. A resource guide for further reading (books and internet sites) is provided. Finally, a song, “Over in a River,” with lyrics and music is included.
Over in a River: Flowing out to the Sea makes for a great read and a fantastic resource for an elementary school project on rivers and river life.
Other books by Marianne Berkes reviewed on this blog: