Pond Scum [Paperback]

Alan Silberberg (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 3 and up

Oliver is the type of kid who enjoys pulling the wings off flies just to hear the little " snap. " Needless to say, he`s more friendly with his television than with other kids. Oliver`s life takes a turn, though, when his mom gets a new job and moves the family to a small town. Worse, his mom has fallen in love with a rundown old house near a pond. But there`s something weird about the house. It seems to be guarded by creatures from the pond-creatures who decidedly don`t want the family move in.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7–The inhabitants of the Pond are alarmed when humans move into the old house nearby. Unlike the gentle creatures in Robert Lawson's Rabbit Hill (Viking, 1944), these animals are a militant lot. Spurred on by General Santo Domingo, a power-hungry crow, the Alliance Elders advocate all-out war. Salamander Mooch and the younger critters, however, prefer peaceful coexistence. When the General pilots his dive-bombing squadron against the new family, the animal kids launch a counteroffensive to stop the crows. During the battle, 11-year-old Oliver captures Mooch. Although the boy has never had much empathy for animals, he enjoys caring for his new pet. Then, he uncovers a strange gem hidden in the attic and finds that it allows him to transform into an animal. Oliver, who has never had a real friend, finds one in Mooch, who gains self-confidence as he introduces his new companion to amphibian life. When the two learn that the General plans to use the anti-human campaign for his own evil schemes, they must unite humans and creatures for mutual defense. Considerable doses of humor leaven this ecological adventure. The Alliance members waver between their natural frog-eat-fly instincts and their need to work together. There is snappy dialogue, lots of slime jokes, and body humor. Readers will appreciate the combination of serious issues and funny moments.–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. An array of animal neighbors lives around a pond located near an abandoned house. In an effort to keep humans from moving into the house, the animals have formed an uneasy alliance. Then a family occupies the house and can't be chased away. Oliver, the 10-year-old boy in the family, is the type of kid who enjoys torturing insects, but when he finds an unusual gem that has the power to transform him into an animal form, his outlook changes. In the course of the story, Oliver shape-shifts into a variety of creatures, and he helps stave off a power grab among the animal kingdoms. Frequently funny and exciting, Silberberg's suspenseful, vivid story delivers insights into the dependence of small creatures on the understanding of their human neighbors. Todd Morning
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (March 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786856351
• ISBN-13: 978-0786856350
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,221,653 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As a kid I always knew I was going to be a writer. It was that or being the guy who hands out samples at the supermarket (I liked the easy access to the snack foods).

Every day I get to sit down and make stuff up. Let me tell you, that's a pretty great way to spend your time. Especially if you have a dog named Zeus perched on the chair behind you and an iced coffee by your side. Give me those things and then I'm all set to do my best putting words together to tell a story I hope you'll like.

MILO: STICKY NOTES & BRAIN FREEZE is my latest book and I am so proud that it exists. Winner of the SCBWI Sid Fleischman Humor Award, MILO is a funny story about a 13 year-old boy trying to figure out how to fit in and make sense of all the changes swirling around him. Filled with my cartoons and illustrations, it is also a heartwarming book that tells the story of a boy learning how to say the goodbye he never had the chance to say.

Milo is a weird and funny kid learning how to live without his mom. The book is so important to me because I was Milo. I lost my mom when I was nine and that was the moment my own life went from being normal - to being something that didn't make sense any more.

I wrote the book because it was a story that needed to come out of me. That's why it is a funny book. A sad book. A hopeful book and a helpful book.

MILO: STICKY NOTES & BRAIN FREEZE is the book I hope you enjoy as well!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, original, and hysterical., October 15, 2005

By 

B. Karney (Santa Clarita, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pond Scum (Hardcover)

I was aware of the author from his wacky animated work for television, and I picked this up thinking it might be appropriate to read to my 4-year old daughter. It's not, but when she's 8 or so this will be perfect. Silberberg writes with tremendous generosity and humor about a somewhat wry and isolated boy who discovers a magical gem that allows him to transform into any animal he touches. In touching the animals, he is touched by them as well, and learns to appreciate, directly from a spider in fact, the web of life.

If this sounds serious, it is not. At all. This is a very funny book, written with a comedian's ear for dialogue. The humor comes from the author's decision to show the animals thinking like animals. For example, they are cheerful and stoic about the fact that occasionally they eat each other. At the same time, they are well-developed characters, with vividly realized personalities (the head of the frogs talks like the Godfather, and due to age, has some aim issues with his tongue).

Throughout, Silberberg embraces his characters with a warm acceptance of even the most obnoxious ones, while never denying the dark side of the social worlds of the pond and the school room.

This is a wonderful debut that will appeal to all the knowing adolescents out there. Read it now so that your child will have a chance to imagine all of these voices before Pixar or Dreamworks makes the inevitable movie.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANASTIC CHILDREN'S BOOK! AUTHOR HAS A "WAY WITH WORMS.", March 13, 2006

By 

DFW - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pond Scum (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my 9 year old son. It is very difficult finding books that engage him. He'd rather be playing baseball or tennis. But from the moment we started reading "POND SCUM" and meeting all the buggy characters like Mooch and Willy, he was totally into it. In fact, he loves reading it out loud, because he wants to share with us all the funny things that happen.

The author obviously has spent time researching insects, birds and fish. (Oh, yeah and real estate agents, too.) It is this substantial knowledge that supports the story and creates characters that feel real. (You'll think twice about stepping on an ant or swatting a fly after reading this book.)

As I read along with my son, I can "see" this story and have no doubt we will find it on the big screen soon.(Jack Black as the hungry salamander?)

I bought a few more copies for gifts.

Bravo for "Pond Scum."

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun and fast read filled with puns, jokes, and exciting adventures, November 1, 2005

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pond Scum (Hardcover)

Oliver is a lonely kid. He is unpopular in school, he has no friends, and to top it off, his parents are divorcing and he is forced to move to a new town with his mom and sister. Oliver finds a bit of comfort spending hours sitting in front of the TV, and his hurting heart sparks a tiny bit of pleasure in pulling the wings off of flies. He has no clue of what he is about to stumble into.

Desperate with the lack of channels in their new home in the country, Oliver decides to climb up on the roof to install an antenna. While up there, he is suddenly bombarded by an attack from a crow! What makes it even weirder is that this is the second such mysterious attack from wildlife his family has received since moving into their home. But not stopping to think about this, Oliver tries to escape, only to fall through a weak spot in the roof. Amidst the pile of shingles and other roof parts now in the attic, Oliver discovers a beautiful crystal that he decides to keep for good luck. In no time, he accidentally discovers the magic of the crystal --- which turns him into any creature he wants!

Oliver is soon exploring the nearby pond and forests, not as a kid, but as a bird and a fish and a spider and a rabbit! He is even making a couple of very good friends, like Mooch, the salamander, and Antoine, the crow. Oliver is also learning lots about his animal friends, coming to respect them and their way of life --- no more pulling the wings off of flies! But he also stumbles into a sinister plot to take over the forest and to chase him and his human family out of their home for good. Can Oliver and his new friends save both of their worlds?

Alan Silberberg is no novice when it comes to writing, and this is evident in the talent he pours out onto each page. Lots of puns, funny jokes and exciting adventures make this a fast and fun read. As a bonus, each new chapter greets the reader with a beautiful sketch of an animal. Not only will this story bring many smiles to any reader --- boy or girl, young or old --- it will also help create a respect for the animal world by inviting all to step into their shoes for a little while.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author