At the Marsh in the Meadow

At the Marsh in the Meadow

Sleeping Bear Press
SKU:
9781585369584
$17.99
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Description

Eureka! Silver Award, Winner, 2016

Freshwater marshes are found throughout the United States and in many countries around the world. And in every marsh, there is an opportunity to view dozens of species of animal life. Written in a rhyming cumulative style like The House that Jack Built, At the Marsh in the Meadow portrays the wetlands food chain, showing how all forms of life, from the mud at the bottom of the marsh to the birds in the sky, are directly connected to their marsh home. Author Jeanie Mebane has worked with the National Park Service and U. S. Forest Service, and has lived near or worked at marshes from Florida to Arizona and Alaska.

Booklist - At the Marsh in the Meadow

A freshwater marsh is much more than just standing water. From the mucky mud and the reeds growing in it to mayflies nibbling its algae to the eagle swooping down to catch a fish, the marsh teems with life. Using the cumulative style and cadence of “This Is the House That Jack Built,” Mebane has created a fascinating look at the food chain in the marsh. The text is made up of short lines with the last word in each printed in colorful ink for emphasis. Guerlais’ vibrantly colored illustrations are eye-catching but sometimes lose an accurate sense of scale when featured creatures are enlarged to show detail. The information in the book is light but conveys a good sense of the relationships among the marsh’s living things. A glossary and appended notes about this ecosystem and its food chain extend concepts from the main text, though no references are provided. Pair with Gail Gibbons’ Marshes and Swamps (1998) for a more informational look at marsh life.

School Library Journal - At the Marsh in the Meadow

The food chain is brought to life in a “The House That Jack Built”-esque poem with cumulative phrases. Readers see how algae at the bottom of a marsh supports the mayflies, which are in turn food for the water spiders. The water spiders are prey for the dragon flies, which sustain the minnows, and so on. Mebane and Guerlais combine their skills to create a harmonious vision of healthy marsh life. The visuals depict a sunlit golden haze above the waters with warming rays and sparkling bubbles of light beneath. This is a gentle view of the food chain. Three of the creatures, mayflies, dragonflies, and tadpoles, present smiley faces despite their role as predators. The hunting of prey is generally not depicted: only the eagle is in active pursuit of food, with sharp claws to snatch the slender fish, which she then offers to her eaglets. A brief statement on the marsh food chain is appended. VERDICT An attractive yet additional purchase.

Additional Information
Author:
Jeanie Mebane
Interest Level Low:
Age 6
Interest Level High:
Age 8
Reading Level:
Age 6
Lexile Level Low:
AD770L
Lexile Level High:
AD770L
ATOS Reading Level Low:
5.1
ATOS Reading Level High:
5.1
Guided Reading Level Low:
J
Guided Reading Level High:
J
Language:
English
Copyright:
2016
Number of Pages:
32 Per Title
Teaching Guide:
No
Set:
No