Beautiful art and a fun poetic cumulative verse makes learning fun Readers will gain knowledge of the ecosystem in the swamps and an appreciation for the world around us

Under the algae that carpets the swamp, near the duck who paddles in ooze, close to the turtle who takes a snooze . . . hides a gator Still as a log, only his watchful eyes can be seen. But when gator moves, he really moves What happens to the duck, the turtle, the egret, the deer, and the many other critters of the swamp when gator makes his move? Children will search for the gator and get a glimpse of real life in a swamp. Back material offers insight into this unique habitat and each of the featured animals. Berkes offers tips on how to engage young children actively in the topic, and Baird--who lives in Texas and has gators in her back yard--offers insights into how she created the images digitally.