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Who Eats Whom by the Pond?
by My Book Hub Team
Hopper the frog wonders where his food comes from and discovers how frogs, dragonflies and fish depend on each other in the pond.
What your child will learn
Understands simple food chains and what animals eat.
Genre: educational
For ages 6-9
A peek inside
Hopper the cheerful green frog sat on a lily pad by the quiet pond. His bright round eyes looked around. 'I'm hungry,' he croaked softly. 'But where does my food really come from?' The warm sun shone on the water. Hopper decided to explore and find out who eats whom by the pond.
First, Hopper noticed the bright sun high above the pond. 'The sun gives energy to green plants,' he thought as soft green algae floated near the surface. Tall reeds and lily pads grew in the shallow water. These plants use sunlight to make their own food. Without plants, no animal by the pond could eat or grow.
Tiny water snails crawled slowly across a leaf and nibbled the soft green algae. 'Snails eat plants!' Hopper said with a happy croak. Small insects called pond skaters darted about on the water. Some little creatures munch only plants and algae, so they are the first animals in the pond food chain. Hopper watched them carefully and smiled.
A shiny dragonfly hovered above the reeds, and its long body sparkled in the light. Hopper learned that dragonfly babies live underwater where they hunt tiny insects and snails for food. Grown dragonflies catch flying bugs in the air. These hunters help keep the pond balanced. Hopper felt excited to see who eats whom next.
A silver fish swam near the lily pads, flicked its tail, and darted forward. The fish gulped down a small water insect. 'Fish eat little animals that live in the pond,' Hopper said. Some fish also nibble plants and algae, while bigger fish may even eat smaller fish. Everyone needs food to stay strong and healthy.
Hopper's own tummy rumbled as he spotted a fly buzzing near the water. With a quick leap, Hopper caught the fly on his long sticky tongue. 'Frogs like me eat insects,' he croaked proudly. Frogs help control how many bugs live by the pond, and that is Hopper's special place in the food chain. He felt useful and glad.
Suddenly a tall heron stood still at the water's edge, so Hopper sat very still on his lily pad. The heron eats fish and sometimes frogs for its meals. 'I am part of the chain for bigger animals too!' Hopper realized with wide eyes. Energy moves from one living thing to the next. Hopper hopped under a broad leaf and watched the bird fly away.
More books for ages 6-9
- Follow the Raindrop: A Stream Adventure
- Sunny's Sunflower Adventure
- Through Kit's Greenhouse Window
- Torchlight Shadows
- Weather Watch with Mia the Cloud Detective
- Our Big Neighbourhood Clean-Up
Find more like this
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