From School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 3—Stunning photographs and descriptive, engaging prose depict a day in the life of a baby dolphin and its mother. Readers will learn about the calf's environment, eating habits, communication, and family dynamic. The information, provided by the American Museum of Natural History, is comprehensive enough to serve as a research resource, while the text is simple enough to work well as a read-aloud for younger students. Most pages are composed of large photographs with a block of text on a colored background. Some of the vocabulary, such as the words danger and splash, is in a bigger, more playful font than the rest of the text. The work ends with the sun setting over the dolphins arcing above the water: "Tomorrow will be another adventure." One missing element is back matter. VERDICT A welcome addition to any elementary school's ocean mammal collection—libraries can't go wrong with dolphins!—Kate Olson, Bangor School District, WI
Review
Stunning photographs and descriptive, engaging prose depict a day in the life of a baby dolphin and its mother. Readers will learn about the calf’s environment, eating habits, communication, and family dynamic. The information, provided by the American Museum of Natural History, is comprehensive enough to serve as a research resource, while the text is simple enough to work well as a read-aloud for younger students. Most pages are composed of large photographs with a block of text on a colored background. Some of the vocabulary, such as the words danger and splash, is in a bigger, more playful font than the rest of the text. The work ends with the sun setting over the dolphins arcing above the water: “Tomorrow will be another adventure.” One missing element is back matter. ¬VERDICT A welcome addition to any elementary school’s ocean mammal collection—libraries can’t go wrong with dolphins! ― School Library Journal
This large-format picture book introduces a baby dolphin shortly after birth. The lightly fictionalized narrative describes his first day of life, from his mother nudging him to the surface for his first breath to the closing scene that shows dolphins jumping into the air, silhouetted against the sunset. In between events such as nursing, swimming with the pod, naptime, and the sudden, alarming appearance of a shark, the informative text delivers basic, interesting facts about dolphin anatomy and behavior in the wild, with particular emphasis on calves. The presentation is direct, simple, and uncluttered. Each double-page spread features one, two, or three color photos, which vary in size and position. While the photos were chosen from 20 sources, the dolphins look similar enough, particularly in the many underwater scenes, that the use of different animals isn’t noticeable. A good addition to science collections, this is one that young dolphin fans will enjoy. Simultaneously published, Wolf Pups Join the Pack looks at another popular wild animal. ― Booklist
About the Author
The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is one of the largest and most respected museums in the world. Since the Museum was founded in 1869, its collections have grown to include more than 33 million specimens and artifacts relating to the natural world and human cultures. The Museum showcases its collections in the exhibit halls and, behind the scenes, more than 200 scientists carry out cutting-edge research. It is also home to the Hayden Planetarium, which enjoys a proud legacy that has blended scientific scholarship with innovative public outreach for much of the past century. Approximately five million people from around the world visit the Museum each year. Plan a trip to the Museum, home of the world's largest collection of dinosaur fossils, or visit online at amnh.org.
