"In this poetic picture book, two curious siblings observe the hidden world of a vernal pool: a special kind of puddle habitat that pops up in the spring, dries up by summer, reappears in the fall, freezes over in the winter -- only to come back again in the spring. Linda's buoyant text is nothing short of an anthem for these "now-you-see-me, now-you-don't" wetland habitats, encouraging young naturalists and future water stewards to listen, watch and even wait to witness the seasonal changes of the ever-changing puddle and its inhabitants. And as readers pore over Miki's beautiful and busy cut-paper collages, they will be fascinated to discover many familiar and not-so-familiar creatures that make up the surprising web of interrelationships living in these vital pop-up pools. THE NOISY PUDDLE includes backmatter that introduces relevant vocabulary (for e.g., "ecosystem" and "vernal pool") and answers some anticipated questions by explaining the vernal pool's annual cycle in more detail, as well as its connection to the larger forest ecosystem. Linda worked with several vernal pool experts to review the manuscript for scientific accuracy - she has included their names and affiliations in her acknowledgements."--