This is sweet and endearing story. The vivid, colourful illustrations truly enhance the tale and create a warm mood. . As a teacher/librarian, this is a fun and educational book to read as you teach many topics: geography, animal habits, friendship, reliance, support... The vocabulary is rich for young children facilitating discovery of new words.

Bubby is a tortoise native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. He moves outside his solitary shoebox into an unfamiliar world, making animal friends who rely on each other for safety, comfort and companionship.
Included at the end of the book is a further learning guide. The reader learns that desert tortoises like Bubby enjoys a good soak in the water, but he must be able the get his head above water or he will drown. The tortoise likes a tight snug home. Also they tend to be solitary animals, even though Bubby made many dear friendships in his life.

Also included is how YOU can adopt your very own Desert tortoise,BUT, you must be a permanent resident of Arizona and your tortoise may outlive its owner.

This is a very well done story of a turtle who lives in the desert. He's got friends and you learn about how they live, what they eat, learn that they hibernate and more. The illustrations are very whimsical and a delight to see.

Nina Story Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can get a copy now.

Not only do you get to watch Bubby grow, you learn the names of his friends. Everyone is a desert animal of some kind. It's fun way to learn about a different part of the states and the environment there.

The author provides more info about the animals and tells you how you could rescue a turtle, too, if you live in Arizona. What an experience that would be!

I loved this adorable children's book. I loved how Bubby made friends with all sorts of other animals even ones who were not like him. The educational aspects at the end of the book are really informative as well. I really like the illustrations. It brings the story to life!

While the pictures are quite nice and the story seems harmless enough after reading the information in the back of the book I am left somewhat confused. The book clearly shows the tortoise at a pond (which is in the title of the book) but in the facts section it states you should never have a pond if you have a tortoise as a pet. There is also a dog in the book which is listed as an animal you should not have in conjunction with a tortoise. I think that these two inconsistencies alone are reasons to skip on this purchase.

Well hello there, come on kids let's meet Bubby and travel along as he meets and make new friends and see new things. The illustrations are awesome and the tiny characters are cute, the storyline is a fun one, as it teaches how to make new friends, sharing and living together in harmony. An educative and fun book that any child would enjoy, so splash along and have fun, I like it, it’s a cool book.

Unable to review as I received an error message every time I downloaded the book. I have a kindle touch. Perhaps this is meant strictly for kindle fires?

This is a really wonderfully illustrated and instructive book for young children. I think this would be an especially helpful book for children who live close to the Sonoran desert, but any child will enjoy the simple story of friends helping one another. There is also the message of growing up and being able to rely on oneself as Bubby first rely's on his owner to build a hibernation box for him but after about 3 winters he is able to hibernate in his own burrow. Children will learn about birds and other wildlife as in the mediterranean gecko that Bubby meets.

There are idea for parents and/or teachers for glossary words, hands on activities and further research on desert animals.

An entirely charming and worthwhile addition to any young child's library.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Will also post to Amazon upon publication

The illustrations were cute, but the story itself was pretty boring. There are a lot of bigger words to learn, like habitat.

A cute picture book that teaches various concepts in a way that children will enjoy. It is about a Sonoran Desert Tortoise named Bubby who leaves his home and is adopted by a young girl. He lives in the desert in a protected environment with his own little pond. Throughout the story you meet his friends, cactus wren, rabbit, gecko, and his humans, who work together to teach the reader about the habitat (Sonoran desert), needs, and care of desert tortoises. Bubby also learns about friendship, kindness, generosity, and teamwork and the story reinforces these concepts with the reader/listener. The illustrations are beautifully done. The colours are true to the environment and there is plenty of detail. At the end of the book there is a glossary, fun facts, information about Arizona's Desert Tortoise Adoption program and instructions for making a bookmark. A great book when learning about habitats, endangered species and character traits. A good addition to a classroom or school library.

Review of BUBBY 'S PUDDLE POND

This endearingly illustrated and delightfully written book introduces children through second grade to the species Desert Tortoise. It also reinforces the concepts of friendship, kindness, generosity, and teamwork. Through Bubby the tortoise and his interactions with new friends (cactus wren, rabbit, gecko, and his humans), children will learn about the habitat, needs, and care of desert tortoises. The author offers additional essential information on Arizona's Desert Tortoise Adoption program.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this cute little picture book that about a Sonoran Desert Tortoise named Bubby who leaves his home and goes out into the desert. Throughout the story you meet all the other animals he becomes friends with. The story is lovely and written for young children, but it also quietly teaches you about trusting yourself and others.

Bubbys Puddle Pond is a delightful book which encouraged my grandchildren to research more about desert tortoises.
It showed them how even animals need friends to make life better and how to be a good friend too.
Definitely a FIVE star children's book!

*thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

4 stars.
A cute little picture book that is also educational but in a way that children would enjoy. It is about a Sonoran Desert Tortoise named Bubby who leaves his home and goes out into the desert. Throughout the story you meet all these other animals and becomes their friend. This story also address trust. Trust with others and yourself.

The illustrations by Nathaniel P. Jensen are just AMAZING! They are so beautiful to look at. There is so much detail and the colors are well chosen. I will be keeping my eye out for more work by this illustrator.

This book also has fun facts at the end and instructions on making a bookmark which is a nice touch.