Amazing Whales!: An Incredible Guide to Ocean Mammals with Wildlife Photographs for Children (Ages 4-8)

by Sarah L. Thomson, Wildlife Conservation Society (Photographer)

How big are whales? How do whales breathe in the ocean? Do they live alone or in groups? Why are so many whales in danger? Read and find out in this Level Two I Can Read that is perfect for beginning readers and animal lovers who can read on their own but still need a little help. Filled with breathtaking, full-color photographs of whales in their natural environment from the Wildlife Conservation Society, this book will fascinate kids with incredible facts about how whales eat, hunt, and even communicate. School Library Journal praises Amazing Whales! for presenting "raw data in a way that will be meaningful to kids" and Booklist says it "evokes a conversation with a knowledgeable, friendly expert."

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Science, Childrens, Nature

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Sarah L. Thomson has written over thirty books for young readers, including poetry, prose, fiction and nonfiction. Her recent books include Cub's BIG World, which School Library Journal called “a big must-have" and Deadly Flowers: A Ninja's Tale, which Booklist called “genuinely thrilling." She lives in Portland, Maine.

Reviews

[Miloš & Brontë · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pa: Five stars again?

Brontë: What! I love the books. I am being honest. Was it a size two? Yeah, it was a size two.

Pa: Do you mean a level two?

Brontë: Yeah, level two.

Pa: So shoot: what did you like?

Brontë: I liked how at the starting they actually told you what sizes there are for Blue Whales, Killer Whales, all the whales, they were telling you how big they are, and I liked the pictures and whoever drew the pictures, I think they look like an actual whale, and even if they painted it that's awesome art.

Pa: I think those are actually photos, like from a camera.

Brontë: Really? Oh. Darn it.

Pa: You sound disappointed.

Brontë: Yeah.

Pa; How come?

Brontë: Because I got it wrong. I just don't like when I say something and then I get it wrong. It feels like I'm not thinking. I'm guessing. And like I don't ask before I do things.

Pa: But that's how you learn Të, making those little mistakes. Don't you think?

Brontë: Yeah.

Pa: So cheer up. You rocked. What was your favourite whale?

Brontë: Killer whale! Because we know Josephus from a story.

Pa: Do they have teeth?

Brontë: Certain whales do, but I can't remember if it was that kind of whale? Let's see.

Pa: I think it is.

Brontë: Yes they do have teeth.

Pa: Anything else?

Brontë: Ummm ... no. Actually, four stars.

Pa: How come? Because of the pictures?

Brontë: Yeah, because of the pictures. Do you think the girl or boy who wrote this will think I am not being fair?

Pa: Don't worry about them, it sounds fair to me.

[AmpharosPlush · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book... it is a god among literary masterpieces. Not even the oldest classics and the newest perfect works of worded art reach the potent and tear-inspiring might of "Amazing WHALES." When I finished this book, all I could do was crawl across my room and put it back on my bookshelf from absolute shock and the tears that were streaming down my face. I would suggest this book to anyone who needs a simply incredible book to light up their life and show them the way.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those books that teaches children to read nonfiction and scientific books. As such it is a multipurpose book but one that felt to me like it wasn't properly put together too much.

First of all as an I Can Read type of book it does a great job in that aspect. The words are in large print, mostly simplistic one or two syllable words and with some pronunciation guide for lesser known words. Although there may be a few other words that a young reader may need assistance with from an older reader the actual presentation is given in a straightforward explanation that provides a clear concept of the ideas that the author is trying to present.

The book is also well provided with colored photographs that allows the reader to be immersed in the world of whales while sometimes giving example of the subject mentioned on the page. Unfortunately for there being about 80 species of whales the variety of whale, dolphin and porpoise species presented in the photographs aren't really diverse nor are there captions to name the species that have been included.

What I didn't like about this book was the book just jumped into the details without really an introductory statement about whales to give the reader an idea about what they are going to explore. Furthermore it also used the wrong name for orcas, which focusing on the age of the audience I guess I can see the reason why. Nor did the book give much other information about dolphins and porpoises besides a brief mention of them.

All in all it was a decent book for both the type of book that it is and the subject matter that it covers. Still I know there are much better books than this stepping stone and I would honestly choose those books over this one for my own little ones.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The smallest dolphin is only five feet long. That's probably shorter than your mom."

[Lynn Plourde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Early reader, but this grown-up learned a thing or two about whales. Such kid-friendly language . . . "the smallest dolphin is...probably shorter than your mom."

[Monica Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son loved it.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of facts about whales.

[Olivia Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave more questions than answers.

[Alan Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative for young readers.

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has nice pictures of different types of whales with easy to read text, a good book for early readers who like animals and nature or want to learn more about whales specifically.

[Andrea Labonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Whales as well so this fitted me very well as well.

[Sarah A · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent early reader book all about whales - what they are, what types there are, where they live and how they eat and breathe.