Scoot! [Hardcover]

Cathryn Falwell (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

While their neighbors in the pond . . .

leap! lurch! scamper! and splash!

six silent turtles sit still as stones.

Will the turtles ever move?

Read this book and find out.

What are you waiting for?

Scoot!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cathryn Falwell grows vegetables and mystery vines in her garden next to Frog Song Pond in Maine. The pond and its creatures have been featured in the books Turtle Splash! and Scoot!, also published by Greenwillow Books.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (February 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061288829
• ISBN-13: 978-0061288821
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 10.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,079,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Editorial reviews, October 14, 2011

By 

C. Falwell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scoot! (Hardcover)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)
PreS-Gr 2
Extraordinary paper collages accompany a high-spirited romp at the pond that involves everyone but "six silent turtles [that] sit still as stones." Strong, predictable rhymes bounce across the pages: "Wood ducks glide./Water striders slide./Salamanders dash./Tadpoles splash." Unusual, lively words extend vocabulary: "Wriggle! Waggle! Scuttle! Skim!/On every reed and stone and limb!" The creatures hustle along until a strong wind surprises everyone and helps the log the turtles are on speed away. "Notes from Frog Song Pond" shows a photo of the author's tree house from which she observes critters and lists names of animals in the book and additional information about some of them. Children will also enjoy the "Printing Textures" page, which has directions and examples of creative textures, including bubble wrap and a broccoli flower. This is an engaging book for young children, but it could also inspire older readers to play with language and use vivid word pictures to add life to writing.

KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred review)
Six silent turtles sit on a log down at the pond. "Green frogs leap. / Beetles creep. / Finches perch. / Herons lurch. / Flicker! Flutter! / Scamper! / Scoot! On / every / rock / and / leaf / and / root!" But the six turtles continue to sit silent as stones. As various land and water creatures scurry and hurry, swing and zing around them, the turtles remain still as stones, until strong winds disturb the calm, startling the turtles, which suddenly speed away. The paper collages mirror the nature setting with colorful backgrounds in blue and green hues that reflect the lush atmosphere. Verbs and actions in large typeface bounce off the pages and pair smoothly with the lilt of the rhymes. Two pages of author's notes offer nature facts in journal style and a page suggests sources for printing textures, e.g. broccoli, carrots and bubble wrap. Like a paper diorama, this artistic, wide-angle view of pond life with sound effects is as rousing as the one from Falwell's tree house overlooking Frog Song Pond must be. (Photo with author's note Picture book. 3-6)

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - Ken and Sylvia Marantz
Six silent turtles down at the pond "sit still as stones" while all around them the other creatures are in constant movement; they leap and creep, perch and lurch. Alternating with the double page rhyming actions of frogs, herons, wood ducks, and many others, the double page of the turtles shows them remaining silent and still. From spider to chipmunk all the creatures move until "strong winds blow Pond waves grow." Then "the six startled turtles suddenly speed away." Paper collage constructs the streams, rocks, trees, and assorted characters with naturalistic thought. Falwell also pays considerable attention to the esthetic presentation by varying the points of view and choosing colors and positioning objects to move the eye across and through the scenes pleasantly and gently. The few words printed in two sizes go with the flow, integrated into the page design. Many animate and inanimate objects contribute texture and information to the visual tale. There are also two pages of notes about what the author wishes to call to our attention to from her walk near Frog Song Pond, plus instructions about how to print textures using common objects. Reviewer: Ken and Sylvia Marantz