Penny, The Review Group's reviewer Penny for Your ThoughtsThe Review Group
Children's ✦ Penny’s Take

Over and Under the Pond

Kate Messner Β· 2017
83/100
πŸ‘ Worth It

Kate Messner turns a quiet canoe ride into a window on the hidden underwater world beneath it, and Kirkus gave it a starred review calling it a magical world kids will want to revisit again and again. Beautifully illustrated and it teaches real ecosystem concepts without ever feeling like a lecture.

✦ Penny’s Take β€” this is The Review Group’s own editorial assessment. Penny’s analytical review line researched this book from real sources and scored it across the lenses shown below. It’s an honest first-party read β€” not a page-by-page personal one. The gold βœ“ Penny Tested mark is reserved for books Penny reads cover to cover herself.
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Show the math
Verdict receipt0–100
Faith & family safety90
Substance / usefulness82
Craft & writing88
Originality75
Evidence & accuracy85
Hype vs delivers55
Age-fit90
Human-eye read88
Penny’s verdict83
Cross-pollinate