Astro: The Steller Sea Lion

Helping Animals & Changing Habitats

by Jeanne Walker Harvey, Shennen Bersani (Illustrator)

Astro is a stellar Steller sea lion! Only a few days old when found orphaned, he is cared for and raised at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California. When big enough to be released to the wild where he needs to be, he has other plans! Just like a lost dog finding his way home, Astro keeps swimming back towards the Center, crossing miles of open ocean water to do so. After several attempts, people realize that Astro is too accustomed to humans and will just keep coming back. Based on real events, readers follow Astro through some of the travels that have taken him across the U.S. to his current home at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. The For Creative Minds educational section Steller Sea Lions, Steller Sea Lions Threatened and Endangered, Where in the World? (A Map Activity), Steller Sea Lion Life Cycle, Sea Lion or Seal? (Whats the Same? Whats Different?). Additional Teaching Activities and Interactive Quizzes are available for free on the Sylvan Dell Publishing website.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Nonfiction, Science, Childrens, Nature, Health

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 10, 2010

About the author

Jeanne loves finding a true story (especially about an inspiring creative person) that is engaging and fascinating, and then using her creativity to tell the story. She hopes children will have a love of words and understand the power and beauty of words.

Ever since she was a child, Jeanne dreamed of being a childrens book author. Along the way she has had many jobs, ranging from being a roller coaster ride operator to an attorney for high-tech companies to a writer of magazine articles to a teacher of Language Arts and writing workshops at a public middle school. She studied literature and psychology at Stanford University, and volunteered for many years at the local public school library, the Marin County Literacy Program, as a docent for school groups at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and as a board member for both the Sausalito Public Library and Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.

She lives in Northern California. She has two wonderful grown sons and an adorable adopted cat. As she prefers silence when she is writing, her cat is a perfect companion because she sits on her papers and only walks across her laptop when she wants to be petted. Jeanne loves to take breaks by dancing in classes, hiking in nature, and gardening (especially growing flowers).

Reviews

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 - This is a hard one for me to rate and review. The second I saw the cover I knew I'd be reading it with Julia. The next second when I read the title I knew that it would mean something to the both of us. I assumed, incorrectly, that this was going to deal with the death of a dog who got sick with cancer. (If anyone knows of a book like this I'd appreciate the recommendation.)
This story is about Cody and his dog, Champ, and their agility training and shows. One day Cody finds a strange bump on Champ's tummy and takes her to the vet.
After finding out that Champ has cancer Cody watches as she gets more sick, tired and depressed daily. One of Cody's friends came up with a good idea and Cody, his friends, and Champ are at the park the nest thing the readers knows, with Champ making her way through an agility course. She's slower and slightly off off course at times but she does it and the reader can see that it helps immensely.
Champ doesn't die in the end and while this is realistic in a lot of cases it isn't exactly what we need. The story is a good one, the illustations big and fun and the end of the book contains facts about cancer and dogs. Julia and I skipped this part because I don't think she'd be at all interested in it. Maybe an older child or even one Julia's age/a little younger with a sick dog at the time could benefit from it. I skimmed it and it seems fairly thorough.

Update on 6/9/11 - Julia saw this at the library last week and remembered it and, surprising to me, wanted to reread it. I'm not sure she actually remembered the content or just remembered that we'd read the book or even if the cover attracted her again. Whatever reason(s) she had we borrowed it again and read it again.
I almost want to say I liked it a little better this second time around but I'm not positive. I would have done it a little differently had it been me. I do think it's possible it could be some help to young children who has a dog or pet going through something similiar to Champ's. I just think their situation would have to be very similiar and that leaves out a lot of people.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeanne Walker Harvey has written an amazing true story about a special sea lion that was stranded as a pup and later rehabilitated at the Marine Mammal Center. What's so incredible about the story line of the main character Astro, is that upon his release into the sea, he would keep coming back. Would Astro be able to return to the wild? Indeed, curious minds want to know.

Not only is this a great educational book but a fun one for home schools, animal lovers, and for all ages who care about endangered and threatened species. Once you hear about Astro's story, I guarantee this, you and your family will fall in love with Astro and his "stellar" life.

From all the details of the rehabilitating steps that have begun at Santa Cruz to more information gathered and shared at the Mystic Aquarium regarding how he was moved to Connecticut, you will want to purchase this wonderful picture book. Towards the back of the book it looks like a Junior National Geographic section on Stellar Sea Lion facts of their life cycle and the difference between a sea lion and a seal.

In addition to the author presenting well researched information and a passionate heart toward one sea lion's rescue, you'll find the real life illustrations by Shennen Bersani complimenting the text warmly. A real page turner book leading the young reader on to learn more!

Guiding children through education and discovering their environment about nature and marine animals, I believe you will find it here in this wonderful 5* picture book and I highly recommend this one to you. You'll find teaching activities, interactive quizzes available, plus Spanish text and so much more.

Thank you Jeanne for introducing Astro to our family. We rejoice with many who have learned that this very lucky sea lion is safe and he is home. We LOVE his story and wish you much continued success!

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a stormy, windy night Sophia is awakened. Her mother suggests they count animals to get her back to sleep. Once asleep, Sophia dreams of her animal friends. The wind swishes, swirls and spins the animals so harshly it takes off their fur, feathers, shells and scales.
Sophia lends them some of her own clothing for protection, but the frowns on their faces let her know this will not work. There are so many animals to cover, but Sophia has an idea. She remembers her grandmothers sewing basket, which is filled with fur, feathers, pins, sequins and so much more.

In no time Sophia has managed to sew a fur coat for a polar bear, she put together feathers for a duck, pins for a porcupine and slime for a frog. She has even managed shiny sequins for a fish with a little dab of slime to help her go “swish, swish, swish lickety-split.”
Each animal gets the special covering they need plus a little something extra. You will have to read this wonderfully illustrated story to see the extra special touches Sophia has created. And what the animals think about it.

Fur And Feathers is a must have for families, teachers and home schoolers. The back of the book contains “Creative Mind” activities along with science facts and information about the animals discussed in the story. This book is a great way for children to interact and learn about animals and their various coverings and habitats.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My little girl just loved this story. I would read it to her and she would point at the beautifully illustrated pictures. She loved the animals in this story and would keep pointing and asking me questions... So this was a great book to teach her why the animals had different type of skin to keep them warm... and what a fun way for her to learn about it.

The back of the book has all kinds of facts about each animal that was featured in the book and few that weren't. The back of the book helps teach your child about scientific animal classification and skin coverings. With the colorful pictures, cute story and educational facts I would recommend this book for any child. I would give it an easy five stars from my household.

* I have been provided a complimentary copy of Fur And Feathers for review by Sylvan Dell Publishing. By receiving a complimentary copy it in no way obligates me to write a good or bad review. I am an honest reviewer and my reviews are based on my own opinion and only written by me.*

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a simple story, perfect for the picture book format. The reader learns something about Steller sea lions (named after my man Georg Steller, a naturalist/explorer from the bad old days when a zoologist's field notes might include the description "tastes great!"), but the real stars of this book are Astro's caretakers and trainers. Many of them volunteers, they are shown capturing, feeding, training, and transporting Astro. They use simple equipment, they mind their fingers, their eyes are on the animal at all times, they lift with their knees and not their back.

Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/201...

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The students in my self-contained SpEd class are currently studying sea life, so I was thrilled to find this book to read to them. We also found a YouTube video about Astro to watch to further enhance their understanding.
The illustrations are almost photographic they look so real.
I know it was really a story about Astro but I wish there had been at least just a little bit of information about what threatened/endangered means in the story as well as what to do if you ever see an animal that seems to be lost, stranded, or injured.
The students and their teacher all enjoyed it and gave it 4 and 5 star ratings.

[Terry]

Readers will instantly connect with Astro and be rapt by his story. It is interesting and has not a perfect, but a happy ending. The illustrations seem to be rendered photographs, which makes the story feel all the more real.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bittersweet true story about a baby sea lion and what happened to him.

[Ice 9 · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://letterstocassiandotherfolks.bl...

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mommy's review from 11/7/11 -



I think I found this at a library sale awhile ago and we just finally got around to reading it two days ago.
This children's story is based on real events when a baby seal lion was found on an island off of California. Luckily it was a scientist who found Astro and knew what to do. At the same time, the story never states whether it was even proved that this baby seal had lost his mother. I can only hope this was looked into and that the sea lion was watched before being taken away. The young seal lion was taken to The Marine Mammal Center where he was able to get his weight up thanks for volunteers and center employees.
(How exactly does one volunteer for this? I'd like to bottle feed a baby sea lion too just for the record.)
So when he's ten months old and big enough to be on his own Astro was set free. The center attached a satellite tag so Astro could be tracked on his ocean movements.
When he was first taken back to the sea, at ten months, Astro didn't want to go. The scientists were concerned that he'd been too young when rescued and that he'd bonded with humans more than he should have.
For two days, while scientists watched, Astro barely touched the water. Instead he stayed with a group of elephant seals lying on the beach. (Remind me to move to California please.)
So, Astro obviously had no desire to be ocean bound so the scientists took him further out to sea the next day after a night stop back at the center.
The next day Astro and eight Northern fur seals were released into the ocean. While the eight seals dove into the ocean and swam away, Astro held on to his cage with his flippers. He didn't want to go. Or he didn't want to leave his human friends. Whatever his reasoning, he didn't want to get in the water. Finally Astro plopped into the sea.
But.... ten days later Astro climbed ashore right next to someones backyard (again, please remind me to move to California. I'd like to have cute creatures I've never seen before all over the place.) after swimming under the Golden Gate Bridge and into the San Francisco Bay.
The people from the center "rescued" Astro again, took him back to the center, where he was showing himself to be very happy. The scientists were even more worried now.
A few days later he was taken to an island that was farther away in the hopes of him not returning. Three days later Astro again swam under the Golden Gate Bridge and into the San Francisco Bay. Astro found a group of children outside near a school and came ashore there. He actually started playing with these children and adults if this story is 100% true.
Apparently these people knew enough to know Astro needed to be back in the ocean so they tried to trick him by making him think they had fish for him. Astro isn't stupid though. He laid in the parking lot and refused to move. The people with him called The Marine Mammal Center and he was "rescued" yet again.
Finally it was realized that Astro would continue to do this, continue to find people, and that he couldn't go back to the wild. (I guess Astro's smarter than the scientists.)
Astro's new home would be the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut after a six month long visit to the Long Marine Lab which is part of the University of California in Santa Cruz.
Steller seal lions - what Astro is - are a threatened group and his being there could help people learn how to protect Astro's species. Astro was also trained and got to know the people he'd be in contact with each day.
The book actually goes much like the previous part of this review. At the end of the story is a "Creative Minds" section which I've seen in some other books. They seem to all follow the same outline and this one, like the others I've seen, has a first section about the subject, in this case, Steller seal lions. How far they can dive, where the name comes from, what rookeries are, what they eat and what eats them, who can hunt them and who can't, etc.
'Threatened' and 'Endangered' are explained which is good because these terms can be confusing even to an adult. Why the Steller sea lions numbers have gone down is mentioned as well as where they can be found. There's even a nice map which shows where the two main groups of Steller sea lions can be found. The Eastern group is threatened and the Western group is endangered.
The last two pages show and tell the difference between a seal lion and seal and give a sea lion life cycle that kids can put in order to spell out a scrambled word. The life cycle would be pretty hard for a young, young kid but kids older than toddlers would probably be fine with a little help.
Shennen Bersani's illustrations are nothing if not interesting. It's really an interesting mix she uses. One illustration can look like it was made several ways by looking at it differently. I can't say I loved it but it seemed to work better than any other way I can imagine with this book and that's what matters.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astro is a story that will stick with me forever. The story of this pup who was found on the beach and then struggled being in the wild is a profound one. I also think the illustrations were so vivid and eye-catching, they brought the story to life.

[Penelope Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Fur and Feathers by Janet Halfmann with artwork by Laurie Allen Klein. It’s an imaginative story full of silly fun and solid scientific information for young inquiring minds. Listening to the audio reading of the book was most enjoyable. I picture children sitting in a circle captivated and transfixed by this story. The text is also available in Spanish. As a parent, teacher, and author, I really appreciate a book as enchanting and stimulating as this one is. There are additional teaching resources and activities online.

This is a charming story about a little girl named Sophia who dreams of a wild wind that whips the coats off of animals and various other creatures. The poor animals then need her help to make new coats and coverings for them. It is a delight to see Sophia try and then find just the right “clothing” for all her animal friends. She sews, snips, tucks, paints, and “slimes” through the night until all her critter friends are suitably clothed again. The story ending with a visit to the zoo is especially dear.

Laurie Allen Klein’s illustrations are amazing, rich with detail and whimsy. There is so much going on in each panel that parents and teachers will have plenty of “what do you see in this picture?” questions to ask their children and students. This is a story that will be enjoyed, requested, and beloved by many, many children. Although I wish it were available to me when my daughter was young, I’m thrilled it is available now.

[Mymcbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review: Steller Sea Lions are a threatened species that live in the northern Pacific. And this story is based on real events about a sea lion named Astro that became so accustomed to humans that he was so afraid to return back to the sea. He has not seen the ocean since he was a few days old. And the volunteers from the Marine Mammal Center were getting worried that he was going to starve. Every time the volunteers take Astro out to sea he kept finding his way back to San Francisco.

The Marine Mammal Center knew Astro wouldn’t be able to adapt to the wildlife so a permanent home was found for him at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. This is a heartwarming and educational story that will captivate children of all ages.

The last few pages of the book includes a section called “For Creative Minds” which has all sort of information about the steller sea lions, why there are threatened and endangered. Where in the world? A map activity! Steller sea lion life cycle and the different between a sea lion and a seal.

This is a great book for children to learn about the steller sea lion’s habitats.





Disclaimer: As per FTC guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the Sylvan Dell Publishing in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Cody, a young boy, plays with his golden retriever, he notices a lump on his dog's belly. Cody and his father take Champ to a vet who tells them that Champ has cancer. They decide to treat Champ's cancer and Cody struggles with taking care of Champ. The chemotherapy appears to work and Champ runs through the dog park, getting ready for the agility show. During the show, Cody trips and breaks his ankle. He says, "I guess it's your turn to take care of me, just like I took care of you." The end pages have basic facts/definitions related to
cancer, a true and false quiz, how to cope with cancer/chemo, preventing cancer when you grow up and circling healthy activities. A portion of the profits of this book are contributed to the ASCEND Foundation which along with Sylvan Dell Publishing created the book. ASCEND's vision is to use this book in order that teachers, parents, and caregivers can educate children on cancer in a relatable manner. The color illustrations are soft and bright. This book may help children to understand cancer as ASCEND intends. If purchased, buy the hardcover or eBook version as the paperback won't hold up to repeated circulation.

[VS Grenier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fur and Feathers
By Janet Halfmann
Illustrated by Laurie Allen Klein
2010
ISBN Paperback: 978-1607-180869
$8.95
Ages 4-9
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed By Irene S. Roth

Synopsis: This is a cute children's book about Sophia who awakens from her sleep because of a bad storm. After her Mom soothes her for a while, she falls asleep and dreams that the winds whisk the fur, feathers, shells, and scales off all the animals in her area. Since the animals in her dream were shivering in their bare skin, she decides to make a coat for each of them. So, she takes out her sewing kit and materials, and sets to work. In the process, she learns a lot about the various animals and how to help them out. In addition, there's a sidebar for creative readers.


Overall Thoughts: This is a great book to encourage kids not to be afraid of things that they cannot control but to do things that will enrich their lives and those of others. There are many other lessons for kids in the book as well, such as being kind and creative and that we could turn any situation into something positive and productive. These are all great messages for kids.

[Tina Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story will fast become a favorite with your children. And guess what? You'll get a FUN new game you can play in the car, at bedtime, while waiting at the doctor's office -

Fur and Feathers is a wonderful story of a little girl who has a dream and in that dream ALL the animals have lost their fur, feathers, scales, etc. Now, WHAT is a little girl to do - but help them get warm again!

Fur and Feathers is published by Sylvan Dell Publishing which specializes in educational books that include a packet of science activities that you can download online and use in the classroom or at home. Each book also includes 4 pages at the back of the book with activities for those without internet. These activities include classification, skin coverings, questions you can use with animals, everyday items at home or on errands and at the zoo to help your children think about what they are seeing.

[Litland.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astro’s story is heartwarming and the illustrations are fabulous. The story helps us to understand why his life events turned out as it did, and yet it is neither boring nor drawn out. Books like Astro the Steller Sea Lion are important to a child’s moral formation. The people in the story deal with difficult issues of how to best help Astro. As the entire book is focused on providing loving care as best possible to God’s creation, it shows children how they can do the same and helps them develop empathy for others. They learn to see their role in the world as caretaker, through which they innately connect with the sacred around them.

The publisher has loads of activities for traditional and homeschool classroom use too. We’ve evaluated it against our character education criteria http://ow.ly/5fIiR . With fun activities in the back of the book, we also recommend it for road trips and family book clubs or reading hour. Enjoy!

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for children of all ages. It can be used to teach about marine mammals and the care that is provided when they are unable to return to their natural environment. Along with the engaging story of Astro, the illustrations are amazing and incredibly realistic. Author Jeanne Walker Harvey lives in Marin County and has written several articles about marine animals. Illustrator Shennen Bersani is from the Boston, Massachusetts area and most often uses colored pencils, crayons, and paint to create her artwork.



Continue reading on Examiner.com Astro the Steller Sea Lion and the Marine Mammal Center of Sausalito - San Francisco fiction | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/fiction-in-sa...

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Mommy's review from 1/6/11)


The best book we've read in quite some time! Totally unique, awesome illustrations, the story is just so catchy. If I had to make a guess I'd say there's a good chance Julia is upstairs right now dreaming this same dream. (Hopefully I'll do the same!)
You can't get any more hilarious that taking animals out of their feathers, scales, fur, etc. When Julia and I started to really get into the story we started laughing and couldn't stop. I adore how smart the little girl is, how she comes up with a way to help all of the animals, and how she helps them so well. I'm sure this would be a dream come true for any child.
We'll be reading this for some time I'm sure and I'll definitely be recommending it to other parents. I haven't looked yet but I sincerely hope Halfmann has other books I can get.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and so did my daughters. When Sophia goes to sleep the windstorm takes all of the outer coats off of all of her animal friends. This makes the animals cold. So Sophie, being a good friend helps to replace the missing clothes with buttons, pieces of fabric, feathers, pins and needles – you get the picture! It’s so fun to watch Sophie come up with replacement clothes for her friends, and for her friends to receive their new duds.

The illustrations are fun – and funny – and the ending, after Sophie wakes up from her dream, is very cute.

Your kids will enjoy this book as much as my family did, if not more.

[Faith Sample · Rating 4 out of 5]

this story is about a little boy and his dog. One day at the park he noticed a lump on champ and decides to take him to the doctor turns out he has cancer. Champ must visit the vet often and take medication as well. Champ has his good days and bad days, but the boy is always there to take care of him. His friends and him decide that doing things that champ enjoys will help cheer him up by taking his mind off of things, so they go to the park. The little boy broke him leg, and its now champs turn to take care of him. Grief affects people differently but I think what the little boy did was a good start trying to cheer champ up.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl dreams that a group of animals have arrived at her door, with their coverings blown off by the cold wind. She uses things around her to make a fur coat for the polar bear and quills for the porcupine, feathers for the duck and scales for the fish, slimy skin for the frog and dry skin for the snake, a shell for the snail and wing covers for the ladybug. The girl smiles with secret delight when she spies a small red heart she’d sewn on the fur coat of the polar bear during a trip to the zoo.

[Megan MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Astro the sea lion is so cute!! This story is an inspiring story about sea lions and could be related to other animals and saving them. I would also recommend this book for children or people that want to be vets or work with animals when they grow up. Astro is helped back to safety and taken care of after some workers from an Animal Hospital find him. After he has trouble surviving in the ocean, Astro is moved to an aquatic center where he is used for sea lion resarch. The pictures are engaging as well!

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only a few days old when found orphaned, a young Stellar sea lion pup is rescued and brought to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, where he is named Astro. The staff carefully bring him back to health, but Astro finds it difficult to return to the wild because of his early imprinting by human caretakers. This moving story is an excellent introduction to the work of this important Bay Area organization. While the flat illustrations create a bit of disconnect with the story, it is still an important book to share with children.

[Megan MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia has a wild imagination! This book about a girl who dreams of all types of different animals and how she can create coats for them is astounding and creates a fun read! This book can also be used to talk about the characteristics of all these different animals and the things on their bodies, whether it be scales, feathers, or fur. In the end, Sophia thinks she finds one of her animals at the zoo and is excited to 'see' the coat she made. I liked this book and the creativiy portrayed.

[Lauren Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I related to this story becaus emy mother died three years ago from cancer. Even though it's different from a dog i can see how student scan relate to this story. This would be good for students are greiveing even if it's over s pet they lost too. I owuld place this book in my sfae place for students. I remember in my pre-k placement a little girl lost her mother and she was having a hard time understanding it. This book could have been read to her.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars My co-worker and friend has breast cancer. It is horrible. I have heard about cancer treatment but until she was sick I didn't know much about the day to day highs and lows. This book made me well up with tears.I was trying not to cry. But it simply talks about cancer, treatment and all the good days and bad days. It help me understand cancer a little better. It has been hard to watch my dog lose her hair and be so tired and sick. AWFUL! Nicely done!

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia's dream combines a bedtime reading with the swirling winds, creating a room full of "uncovered" animals. She solves this first with clothing them with craft, in each case applying the science of the animal's surface with her own creativity. This Sylvan Dell title combines an appealing story with embedded science, along with back matter expanding on animal skin coverings and classification.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fur and feathers

Fur and feathers is a great teaching too for young children. I purchased it for my science curriculum. I recommend this book for teachers and pltw science teachers. Cute photos! I chose 5 stars because it is entertaining and engaged my students as we read the book together. There was nothing to dislike!

[Maggi Rohde · Rating 3 out of 5]

This combination story-information book has lovely illustrations that remind me of Jan Brett's early style. The nonfiction component is rich and informative, if maybe a little too intense for its readership.