Over the Steamy Swamp [Paperback]

Paul Geraghty (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 1995 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

One afternoon a hungry mosquito flies over a steamy swamp. Just behind her hovers a greedy dragonfly, and behind the dragonfly waits a famished frog. . . . And so the story goes, with each hungry creature too intent on its dinner to be aware of the danger stalking it from behind.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-- A ravenous mosquito, cruising the swamp in search of food, is too distracted to notice a hungry dragonfly ready to make a meal of her. In turn, the dragonfly is being sized up by a drooling frog, who is watched by a greedy fish, etc. The long chain of predators and prey ends with a hunter in a pith helmet about to be eaten by a lion. In a surprising turn of events, the mosquito bites the lion's nose. His bellows stop everyone short; the assorted creatures suddenly realize that each is being stalked by something else; and they flee in all directions. Only the smallest, the mosquito, has had a successful hunt. Geraghty's tongue-in-cheek look at the food chain is a clever, entertaining story. Unfortunately, it is marred by his illustrations, which are a cacophony of garish color that masks the beauty of the natural landscape. More troubling are the malicious creatures leering at their prey. To imply to young readers that the natural food chain involves evil intent on the part of animals is misleading. Only the human hunter merits this portrayal, since he alone hunts for sport. While older children might not draw such a conclusion and would be amused by the humor of the glaring predator turned bug-eyed prey, younger readers deserve a more accurate view of an ecosystem. --Virginia E. Jeschelnig, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willowick, OH
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Kindergarten-Grade 2-- A ravenous mosquito, cruising the swamp in search of food, is too distracted to notice a hungry dragonfly ready to make a meal of her. In turn, the dragonfly is being sized up by a drooling frog, who is watched by a greedy fish, etc. The long chain of predators and prey ends with a hunter in a pith helmet about to be eaten by a lion. In a surprising turn of events, the mosquito bites the lion's nose. His bellows stop everyone short; the assorted creatures suddenly realize that each is being stalked by something else; and they flee in all directions. Only the smallest, the mosquito, has had a successful hunt. Geraghty's tongue-in-cheek look at the food chain is a clever, entertaining story. Unfortunately, it is marred by his illustrations, which are a cacophony of garish color that masks the beauty of the natural landscape. More troubling are the malicious creatures leering at their prey. To imply to young readers that the natural food chain involves evil intent on the part of animals is misleading. Only the human hunter merits this portrayal, since he alone hunts for sport. While older children might not draw such a conclusion and would be amused by the humor of the glaring predator turned bug-eyed prey, younger readers deserve a more accurate view of an ecosystem. --Virginia E. Jeschelnig, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willowick, OH
(School Library Journal )

This book provides an amusing look at the food chain, starting with a tired little mosquito and moving up the scale of predators until a lion is bitten on the nose by the same mosquito. His reaction throws everyone in disarray, except for the little mosquito who continues on his way. (Children's Literature )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (March 27, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 015200226X
• ISBN-13: 978-0152002268
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,446,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I have not met a child yet who has not loved this book!, April 8, 2001

By 

J. Kontier (Bellefonte, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Over the Steamy Swamp (Paperback)

A hungry mosquito starts a food chain in a steamy swamp as each hungry animal both preys and is preyed upon. This is a very cute and funny book that can be used to introduce young students to the concept of food chains or swamps. The characters are funny and colorful. The facial expressions are priceless. This book is great for teaching letter sounds and beats, due to the repetition. It is great for Bag-a-Book lessons and Reader's Theatre. I have already worn out one copy from using it so much. Enjoy!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not great, February 17, 2010

By 

D. Larson (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Over The Steamy Swams (Hardcover)

This book had a page ripped out. That was not mentioned in the description.