Physty: The True Story of a Young Whale's Rescue

by Richard Ellis

Relates the adventures of a young sperm whale that gets beached near New York City, and is later helped by a group of helpful whale watchers

54 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1993

About the author

Richard Ellis is a celebrated authority on marine biology and America’s foremost marine life artist whose work has been exhibited worldwide. His nine books include The Search for the Giant Squid (a Publishers Weekly 1998 Best Book of the Year), Great White Shark, Encyclopedia of the Sea, Men and Whales, Monsters of the Sea, Deep Atlantic The Book of Whales, and Imagining Atlantis.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

12/09: We loved this one!

Inside Cover:
One day in April 1981, a young sperm whale beached near New York City. Before that day, only a few people in the world had seen one of these incredible creatures up close. As scientists gathered to help, the young whale quickly became a media star. His new human friends named him Physty (pronounced "feisty"), a tribute to his spirit and a pun on his scientific name. Hundreds of thousands of people watched and waited as Physty struggled for life. Renowned marine writer and artist Richard Ellis was there. Drawing on his extensive knowledge and experience, Ellis has imagined a vivid, scientifically accurate story about the life of this magnificent animal. Physty reveals some of the secrets of the sperm whales, which are among the most mysterious animals on our planet.