Pond Scum

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."

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

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.

This book is on my Top Five book list- it's awesome! I give it a 10/10!

My son (age 10) and I LOVED this book!Lots of fun twists and turns. Great characters who we truly cared about. We laughed, we cried (well, I cried) and enjoyed the author's descriptive, delightful writing style. A wonderful, magical reality story about a lonely, young boy who discovers his true potential.