Whales: The Gentle Giants

by Joyce Milton, Alton Langford (Illustrator)

Illus. in full color. "Milton understands what kids like about whales, and packs a considerable amount of information into the book. This easy-reader leaps with appeal."-- Bulletin, Center for Children's Books.  

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

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Joyce Milton is the author of several noted juvenile biographies, as well as the prize-winning novel, Save the Loonies.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I like whales. I did not like this book because I did not like the part when it told me that people kill whales. I also enjoyed this book because I liked the part when it said they just look at whales now.

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The start of the book is so intriguing! It definitely catches the readers attention, when the men on the boat are going to look for land and turns out it was a whale! The pictures in this book are so kid friendly and colorful. The facts about the whales are so informative. If you are looking for a great book for kids to learn about whales and learn exact information about each and every thing you can think of, this is the book for you. I really enjoyed reading it and learning about things I didn't know about whales.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good 'science' without being science in your face type of book. Teaching about whales and some of the various ones there is. How they take care of their babies and how their lives are. My adult special needs son and I really enjoyed reading this book.

[Melinda Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book will help children learn all about whales: blue whales, sperm whales, narwhal whales,
pygmy sperm whales, gray whales, humpback whales, and the most beautiful, orca whales. They will learn where and how they live and breathe. This information is presented simply and beautifully.

[Jasen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little dated with the random story involving praying & how orcas like being caged in aquariums & performing for people. Cover updated in 2014 but text dates from 1989 so not quite up to snuff for little ones interested in the sea.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some slightly inaccurate information, such as including orcas in a book with whales, when orcas are really in the dolphin family, but overall a cute book about whales.

[Wiseman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter and I found this very interesting :-)

[Trey Auntie Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
"The pointy things on the narwhales can go up to 10 feet long!"

6 and I co-read.

[Sarah A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good early reader book full of information about whales. It fully explains what whales are and how there are lots of different types. It touches on their place in the ocean, how they feed and have babies. It mentions how people were scared of whales and how they used to be hunted for food until laws made it illegal. And it talks about the care and use of whales in aquariums.
A good non fiction book that an interested child will adore over and over. My preschooler actually listened and didn't interrupt my reading once as she was so fascinated / it's a record!
Fun and informative, easy words and great pictures.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

On one hand, this is a nice comprehensive overview of whales for beginning readers. Basic facts about a variety of species are presented, along with information about how people have worked to save whales from the commercial whaling that was decimating their numbers.

Unfortunately, it is also dated with regards to our modern understanding of whales. Orcas are shown in an amusement park setting with the line "They love doing tricks." As various exposes of orca captivity have emerged, SeaWorld's star is fading fast. The orca section of this book should be redone in newer printings, with discussion of how these animals live in the wild.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my boys and even though it's aimed at a younger reader, they were kept interested ... sometimes sharing with me what they already know about whales, and sometimes learning something new.

It's kept simple but packed full of information. Enough to make a child feel they've learned something pretty cool about some really neat animals, and yet whetting their appetite for more information.

A very good book for its targeted reader!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned that whales aren't fish. They need air to breath. There is a whale that has sharp teeth like our teeth and they hunt seals and other whales. I also learned that people hunted whales for oil. And, the humpback whale makes a very weird sound. Some whales eat little sea animals. This was a great book. I like non-fiction.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A non-fiction book on some of the different species of whales: the gentle giants of the ocean. The blue whale, the sperm whale, the male marwhal, the pygmy, the humpback, and the orcas are discussed. There are about seventy-five different kinds of whales. Many other interesting facts are revealed.

[Evelyn Matias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to teach students about whales. It gives blurps about different whales along with some pictures. This book would be good to use if you have a student who particularly loves whales and needs a good book for his/her book report. It give great facts and is straight to the point.

[Cws]

JEAR2-Mil

[Brooke]

Great informational book about whales

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

a good resource for teachers with early readers who need to have some experience with non fiction books

[Michelle]

I think this book is very great because it is very interesting.

[Deborah Harris]

AR Quiz No. 6383 EN Nonfiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.8 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP

[Allen Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I ever read as a kid in 1st Grade. Must have read it a hundred times or so.