Pond Animals for Kids: Books and Yoga Poses for Kids

Last summer, we ended up exploring a few ponds on our summer travels. Some of my favorite experiences are meandering through nature trails with my husband and daughter.

That quiet moment looking out onto a pond.

The birds tweeting.

The ducks diving for food under the water.

The plop sound of a frog jumping to the shallow water.

The turtles sunning themselves on a branch in the pond.

Recently, my daughter and I borrowed a few pond animals for kids books from the library to learn more about pond life. You could also act out some pond animals through yoga postures for kids as a way to bring movement to your pond learning experiences.

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8 Pond Animals Books for Kids

Here are eight of our favorite pond books for kids:

Little Beaver and The Echo
by Amy MacDonald and Sarah Fox Davies
This is a heart-warming story of a lonely little beaver looking for friends on his pond. He takes a canoe to follow his own “echo” and meets a duck, otter, and turtle. In your yoga class, you could act out the canoe (Boat Pose) and all the animals. Ages 4+.

Turtle Splash! Countdown at the Pond
by Cathryn Falwell
This rhyming, countdown book shows all the various animals in the pond environment. The book starts with ten turtles, and each time an animal makes a sound, one more turtle disappears into the water. Ages 4+.

Good Morning, Pond
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and Cynthia Jabar
Each page introduces a new animal at the pond as the pond comes alive with animal sounds in the morning. This would be a great book for a yoga session for young children. Ages 3+.

In the Small, Small Pond
by Denise Fleming
This toddler book takes a frog’s perspective of life in the pond. The simple text and interesting images are great for your youngest yogis. Ages 3+.

Pond Circle
by Betsy Franco and Stefano Vitale
This pond book follows the rhythmic, cumulative storyline of “This is the House that Jack Built,” detailing the lifecycle of creatures in and around a pond, from a beetle to a frog, and ending with a coyote. The fact guide at the back of the book is useful. Ages 4+.

Scoot!
by Cathryn Falwell
As six turtles sit silently on a branch in the pond, other pond animals make noises and play. This is another sweet book detailing pond animals, by the same author as “Turtle Splash!” See her notes at the back of the book for more pond animals. Ages 4+.

Over and Under the Pond
by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal
In this story of a mom and her son, they drift in their canoe on a pond while watching what they can see above and below the pond. Under the pond, they see minnows, crayfish, turtles, and bullfrogs. This is great book to specifically discuss the distinction between the animals that live in the pond and animals that live around a pond. A comprehensive animal guide is at the back of the book. Ages 5+.

Around the Pond: Who’s Been Here?
by Lindsay Barrett George
This story follows a brother and sister as they meet animals on their journey looking for blueberries near their pond. One by one, they follow the signs of different animals, including sunfish, a beaver, and a terrapin. I love the realistic paintings and the fact guide at the back of the book. Ages 4+.

Our favorite Pond Animals for Kids Books | Kids Yoga Stories

Pond Animals Books for Kids

5 Pond Animal Yoga Poses for Kids

After reading a number of pond books, make a list of pond animals. Then check out our list of yoga poses for kids for ideas on creating yoga poses matching the pond animals—or simply follow this pond animals yoga sequence below. These yoga poses are specifically sequenced to invite flow from one pose to the next:

1. Pretend to be a dragonfly

How to practice Warrior 3 Pose: Stand on one leg. Extend the other leg behind you, flexing your foot. Bend your torso forward and take your arms back alongside your body. Pretend to be a dragonfly buzzing around the edges of the pond. Switch sides and repeat the steps.

Warrior 3 Pose | Kids Yoga Stories — Warrior 3

2. Pretend to be a frog

How to practice Squat Pose: Come down to a squat with your knees apart and your arms between your knees. Touch your hands to the ground. Jump up like a frog and then come back to a squat position.

Squat pose | Kids Yoga Stories — Squat Pose

3. Pretend to be a fish

How to practice Locust Pose: Lie on your tummy, lift your chest and shoulders, and look up. Lift your toes and pretend to be a fish gliding through murky pond water.

Locust Pose | Kids Yoga Stories — Locust Pose

4. Pretend to be a beaver

How to practice Extended Cat Pose: Come to all fours, extend one leg out behind you, and look forward. Take the opposite arm out in front of you to counter balance. Pretend to be a beaver collecting forest scraps to build his dam. Repeat on the other side.

Extended Cat Pose for Kids | Kids Yoga Stories — Extended Cat Pose

5. Pretend to be a turtle

How to practice Extended Child’s Pose: Sit on your heels, slowly bring your forehead down to rest in front of your knees, place the palms of your hands flat out in front of you, and take a few deep breaths. Imagine being a turtle sunning itself on a branch in the middle of the pond.