If you look carefully, you can find them and be amazed! These secret
pools form every year when low places on the forest floor fill up with
rain and melted snow. They soon become home to hatching wood frogs,
spotted salamanders, and fairy shrimp. Even in late summer and fall,
when many vernal pools have shrunk to mud holes, creatures such as
turtles and snakes rely on them for shelter and food. The Secret Pool
introduces young readers to the wonders right underfoot as the voice of
a vernal pool shares its secrets through the seasons, and sidebars
provide fun facts on its inhabitants and the crucial role these small,
often overlooked wetlands play in maintaining a healthy environment.
- This edition includes new backmatter features about wetland habitats
and animals for classroom use and reader interest.