ALA Booklist (Tue May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2007)

Using the the rhythm-and-rhyme scheme of  the tune "Over in the Meadow," Bateman successfully  introduces animals native to the Okefenokee Swamp, which straddles Georgia and Florida. Each of the first 10 double-page spreads presents a verse spotlighting a family of featured animals: river otters, turtles, flame birds, marsh rabbits, alligators, blue herons, damselflies, bullfrogs, rat sakes, and crayfish. The text frequently mentions native plants as well, in rhymes such as "Deep in the swamp, where the cattails grow straight. / Lived a mother bullfrog and her little froglets Eight…." The last five spreads provide paragraphs of information about the animals and plants mentioned in the main text, extending the usefulness of the book as an introduction to this distinctive ecosystem. Throughout the book, colorful acrylic paintings precisely delineate the flora and fauna of the Okefenokee. A sprightly read-aloud choice for science units on swamps.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Newcomer Bateman puts a swampy spin on a familiar riff in her ode to the Okefenokee. "Deep in the swamp, in a hollow cypress knee,/ Lived a mother flame bird and her little chicks Three./ 'Sweet-sweet!' trilled the mother. 'Sweet-sweet,' trilled the Three./ So they trilled loud and long in their hollow cypress knee." The predictable rhythm and realistic spreads of swamp mamas and their babies (wearing just a hint of a smile) create a soothing tone. The adapted counting rhyme highlights the flora and fauna of the cypress swamp found in southern Georgia and northern Florida. Readers come eye to eye with alligators, nocturnal marsh rabbits and blue herons in flight. Damselflies emerge from their nut-brown cocoons in a bright, blue-hued scene that offers a skyward view of the cypress canopy. Lies's (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Bats at the Beach) use of reflected light creates a dramatic contrast with the shadowy swamp undergrowth. In one spread, dark clumps of cypress along a narrow waterway cast murky, olive-green reflections that play up a cloud-white sky and gold-flecked flame birds. The final third of the book contains brief descriptions and handsome spot illustrations of the animals and plants featured, illuminating terms such as neverwet plants and cypress knees ("All cypresses have... heavy roots that reach out to keep them standing firmly in the water. Knees often grow up from the roots and poke out of the water"). An attractive introduction to an exotic locale. Ages 3-6. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Feb.)

Horn Book (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2007)

Deep in the swamp, in an underwater den, / Lived a mother crayfish and her little crayfish Ten.

Kirkus Reviews

The familiar children's counting rhyme "Over in the Meadow" gets a fresh face in this engaging description of the flora and fauna of the Okefenokee Swamp. Clever internal rhyme, alliteration and careful attention to scansion make this an unusually well-done adaptation. River otters splash, snapping turtles swim, flame birds (prothonotary warblers) trill, marsh rabbits snooze, alligators bask, blue herons soar, damselflies dry their wings, bullfrogs jump, rat snakes climb and crayfish scurry through double-paged acrylic paintings accurately illustrating each creature in its habitat. The last few pages describe the swamp and its inhabitants in more detail, carefully pointing out those that do not, in fact, care for their babies in real life. Delightful as a read-aloud, a counting book or an introduction to the ecosystem for young naturalists. (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-8)

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-This stunning book spotlights the flora and fauna of Florida's Okefenokee Swamp, but it is applicable to most Southern swamps and bayous. The text is a version of the familiar poem "Over in the Meadow," with impeccable meter: "Deep in the swamp, in a hollow cypress knee,/Lived a mother flame bird and her little chicks Three./Sweet-sweet!' trilled the mother.Sweet-sweet,' trilled the Three./So they trilled loud and long in their hollow cypress knee." Lies's meticulous and glowing acrylic illustrations feature myriad shades of green, yellow, and blue, calling to mind an Audubon painting. Concluding pages discuss each of the featured species, accompanied by detailed illustrations and interesting facts on the animal babies. This appealing title is a perfect combination of text and art.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.