A girl helps to make and manage a fish pond in the picture book Sue’s Splashy Surprise: A Pond-ering Adventure.

Sue, the youngest of her siblings, looks forward to Sunday mornings when they work together around the house. Her oldest brother lets her pull the cord and start the lawn mower, but Sue is too small to do much else except sweep.

Then her brother announces some exciting news: They will be making a fish pond! Sue helps as they pour cement, lay bricks, add pebbles, sand, and finally water, guppies, and goldfish. One day, she decides to change the water in the pond by herself, leading to a scare as she accidentally catches a goldfish in the hose. Using what she’s learned, Sue manages to free the fish, and ultimately the fish pond becomes a lasting symbol of her family’s love and traditions.

Sue is a relatable protagonist, eager and ambitious but also humble and respectful. The story takes place outside, and it’s a satisfying reminder of the fulfillment that can come from solid mental and physical labor and working toward a goal.

The story includes a step-by-step rundown of the building, filling, and draining of the pond, which is long and involved, and likely to lose young readers’ attention with abstract wording. For example, when filling the pond, Sue explains how they add vinegar to the water and leave it alone for a week, repeating the cycle several times to benefit from “capillary action.” Although there’s an illustration of that process, no definition is provided.

The full-color art is simple and fun, mostly successfully illustrating the specific actions described in the text. Sue’s happy feelings of bonding with the family shine throughout the book, both visually and in her narration.

Sue’s Splashy Surprise is an interesting conceit and could interest children who appreciate engineering-type projects. But most youngsters will find its description of the pond project too challenging to enjoy.

Also available as an ebook.