Book Description
Grayson is Lynne Cox’s first book since Swimming to Antarctica (“Riveting”—Sports Illustrated; “Pitch-perfect”—Outside). In it she tells the story of a miraculous ocean encounter that happened to her when she was seventeen and in training for a big swim (she had already swum the English Channel, twice, and the Catalina Channel).
It was the dark of early morning; Lynne was in 55-degree water as smooth as black ice, two hundred yards offshore, outside the wave break. She was swimming her last half-mile back to the pier before heading home for breakfast when she became aware that something was swimming with her. The ocean was charged with energy as if a squall was moving in; thousands of baby anchovy darted through the water like lit sparklers, trying to evade something larger. Whatever it was, it felt large enough to be a white shark coursing beneath her body.
It wasn’t a shark. It became clear that it was a baby gray whale—following alongside Lynne for a mile or so. Lynne had been swimming for more than an hour; she needed to get out of the water to rest, but she realized that if she did, the young calf would follow her onto shore and die from collapsed lungs.
The baby whale—eighteen feet long!—was migrating on a three-month trek to its feeding grounds in the Bering Sea, an eight-thousand-mile journey. It would have to be carried on its mother’s back for much of that distance, and was dependent on its mother’s milk for food—baby whales drink up to fifty gallons of milk a day. If Lynne didn’t find the mother whale, the baby would suffer from dehydration and starve to death.
Something so enormous—the mother whale was fifty feet long—suddenly seemed very small in the vast Pacific Ocean. How could Lynne possibly find her?
This is the story—part mystery, part magical tale—of what happened . . .
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful story.......2007-09-28
This is a great story, I love the book and have given it to many friends
More self-absorbed than interesting.......2007-08-30
From the black, inky black, so very black ocean at the start to her misunderstanding of gray whales and sonar at the end, Grayson romps along but never quite gets there. I found myself repeatedly flipping to the author biography on the jacket flap, wondering how on earth Lynne Cox ever got published in The New Yorker...and how she could have apparently spent so much time in the ocean without learning very much about its inhabitants.
From the reviews, I was prepared to read about a singular connection between a human being and a gray whale made one lonely morning...instead I found a self-absorbed "true" story about a young woman's encounter with a young whale that wandered off course for several hours, then met up with its mother again. Despite Lynne's self-proclaimed connection with the ocean, she doesn't even realize the young whale is swimming near her until pointed out by her friend on the pier. And then suddenly she feels she is the one totally responsible for the whale, even swimming insanely out to an oil derrick offshore to stay with Grayson. Although she places herself front and center, this event involved many people, including dockside workers, lifeguard patrols, fishing boats, and even the ship Queen Mary. This comes as a slight shock to the reader, as her emphasis on the singularity of her swim with the whale initially has us believing the book is about her interaction with the whale, rather than a multi-pronged rescue effort. It would have read better as a simple narration of what happened, instead of her projections of what the whales were thinking, complete with dopey imaginings of telepathic whale-human connection.
I think there is a nice little story in here somewhere, but Lynne Cox desperately needs better editing, and would have done better to have written it as "based on a true story", which would have allowed the plethora of animal description and interaction without causing readers familiar with marine fauna to suffer from eyeroll strain.
Good read aloud.......2007-08-20
Because of the music of the prose here and the subject matter, this is a great little book to read aloud to kids. It's a charming little story, with a bit of oceanography thrown in.
For an afternoon on the sun porch..........2007-07-31
Greyson is a tale by Lynne Cox in which she has a close encounter with a large ocean dweller. Having taken place in her teens, this story is her "coming of age" in a few short hours. This book probably won't change your life, but it might just shift your perspective a little - and that is a good thing.
A bit of a disappointment.......2007-05-22
This book was a bit of a disappointment for me. I was hoping for a story about a whale, but got the reminicenses (sp) of a woman remembering...well, herself rather than the whale. She prattles on about her open-minded thinking and brash individualism. Whatever. I wanted to hear about the whale and the ocean. I suppose this could be taken as a motivational speech; but, again, I was hoping the whale would take center stage. I also wish she had written this as a younger woman so that we might have experienced some of her wonder and awe (at the creature -- not herself).
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful story, easy read, will tug on your heart strings.......2007-07-23
I loved this book! I fell in love with Zamba the lion right from the start and would have loved to have met him in real life. He was an amazing lion who was truly one the the greatest lions who ever lived. I could not put the book down, I was facinated by it and the story of how Ralph Helfer trained his animals. This book touched me in so many ways as I am a animal lover as well, especially cats, both big and small and I found myself laughing and crying....
My dream would be to do what Ralph got to do, raise a lion cub and form a strong bond with it - have a wonderfully close relationship with it and have it be part of the family. What a blessing and treasure!
If you are a animal or cat lover, you will love this book!
Zamba-Review.......2007-05-07
Loved the story! Like to read true stories about animals lives. Author covered everything necessary without being too wordy.
Also loved his book, Medoc, about an elephant.
entertaining, absorbing, optimistic.......2006-09-14
It was engaging to read about the care and coaching of Zamba. The episode with the dentist was quite intriguing: I really thought Ralph would end up being eaten when he tried to do a root canal on Zamba with essentially zero anesthesia.
A simple tale of a man and a remarkable lion.......2006-07-06
Close to the start of the book Mr. Helfer recounts his first encounter with a lion which had been fear trained and nearly loses his arm and his life. However, he realized the lion was just frightened and defending itself. It set him on the first steps to founding a new system of relating to non-domesticated animals that really caught on in the 1960s. The very first beneficiary of this system is Zamba, an abandoned lion cub, who grows into a remarkably gentle, patient and sweet animal. Mr. Helfer details several major experiences with Zamba that includes their first meeting, Zamba's first major movie and trip to Africa, a harrowing episode due to a snow storm, an even more suspenseful escape during a flood, Zamba's departure from the world and a few other experiences they had together. I would have actually liked to hear about many more of these experiences as well as how he refined and developed affection training. Mr. Helfer also raised Gentle Ben and Modoc the Elephant both of whom make cameo appearances. Several times Mr. Helfer critiques his own species quite harshly. There were certainly a few individuals detailed in the book who deserved that condemnation but there were many others who demonstrated bravery, humanity and dedication to animals as well as to people. There were a few relatively minor downsides to the book. Mr. Helfer's writing style is a bit rough around the edges. He makes a few philosophical riffs here and there that aren't anything revolutionary. The author is a bit of a mystic and describes several events which I assumed had some type of magical significance but was not convincing to me. There was actual magic and that was the strong bond between Zamba and Helfer. If you have a fascination with cats especially large ones you'll want to read this book.
Fantastic insight to the bond between human and animal.......2006-03-08
This is a lovely book. Ralph shows us what is possible between humans and animals using kindness and love, not cruelty and mishandling. I really fell in love with Zamba and was moved by Ralph's stories and awe inspired by his amazing techniques and love for all creatures. This is a must read for all animal lovers, especially those with a passion for lions.
Book Description
Ever since his first contact with a gray whale as a teenager, Doug Thompson has had a passion for this majestic marine mammal. Here, he shares stories of whales he has met over his 30-year career, in particular the "friendly" Gray whales of San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja, Mexico. He describes the thrill of interacting with these gentle giants who seek out human contact within their birthing lagoons.Weaving his own and others' fascinating personal accounts with factual information he describes the hidden lives of whales, their mysterious migrations, and the modern threats they face in the world's waters. He also chronicles the efforts of human champions who are working to end whale hunting and promote whale watching - a far preferable economic alternative -worldwide. Ideal for seasoned whale watchers and the general-interest reader, this appealing package includes photos and maps as well as a first-rate companion DVD.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating Read.......2007-02-27
This book really shines a light on a world so few of us see. Doug Thompson has written one of the definitive books on whales, their history and their future. His personal connection to whales and the way he introduces us to the people and places that are so crucial to their survival takes you on a journey filled with the passion of someone who deeply cares for these amazing sea creatures. The DVD that is included adds a visual element that brings the pages of the book to life. It's also great to hear the author narrate the DVD and get a greater sense of his commitment to these smart engaging animals. Whales: Touching the Mystery is an enjoyable read and one that you'll recommend to all your friends.
Whales: Touching the Mystery.......2007-02-05
What a wonderful book! I send a huge and heart-felt thank you to the author, Doug Thompson, for being such an excellent spokesperson for the friendly Grey Whales of our ocean...for writing such an important book...and at a time when their very existence is beginning to be threatened again.
Each year we watch, from our coastal town in Oregon, as these magnificent creatures make their yearly journey to and from Baja. It is a journey that we look forward to each year as they make their way down the coastline and back again.
I have had the opportunity of looking into the eyes of some of these whales and I must say, I have been changed. And now, even more so, after reading this excellent book.
It is my hope that everyone will have the chance to read this book and to learn from it. It truly needs to be in the hands of every conservationist.
'Touching the Mystery' is a thoughtful and beautiful book that not only educates folks about the wonder of these intelligent creatures and the importance of protecting them, but also about the lives of those that live near them...the keepers of the lagoons and stewards of the land and sea.
This book comes with a 30 minute DVD offering incredible footage of these Whales. Doug's many years as a film maker certainly are apparent in this documentary. It is absolutely stunning!
I am about to order several more copies (after having already purchased an armload)
Thank you again Mr. Thompson!!! You are a hero!
Whales:Touching the Mystery.......2007-01-09
Whales: Touching the Mystery entrances the reader. Complete with a DVD showing incredible footage of humans interacting with whales and whales enjoying thier ocean journeys. The book explores Gray Whales teaching us the beauty of their life and the impact of their journeys from Alaska to Baja Mexico on humans and the viabilty of ocean life. This book is for whale lovers, nature adventurous and the curious. The author tells the story of the current effords of humans to preserve the birthing lagoons of the whales, as well as the impact on the indigious folks of the area. Historical information combined with current conservation by the Mexican goverment creates an intrique of circumstances and give hopes to the future. Reading this book will have you heading towards Baja to sea for yourself and to experience the joy of our whale ancestors. READ it and Buy it for a friend or your local library.
A pitch perfect book and DVD -- powerful and moving .......2006-11-16
I can't claim to be deeply familiar with the current literature about whales (my library boasts at most two or three books on the subject) but if you're looking for the one book that conveys the majesty and wonder of these incredible creatures, one that engages both the mind and the heart in ways both powerful and moving, this book and accompanying DVD is it. Mariner, naturalist and filmmaker Thompson has been leading whale watching expeditions to Baja California for 30 years--he may have been the first one to do so-- and he does an admirable job of distilling the knowledge, wisdom and deep insights gained from three decades of whale interaction into a narrative that is at once accessible, informative and fascinating.
While much has been reported about the profound, even life-changing, impact that touching a whale has on those who have had the experience, Thompson deftly steers clear of being preachy or New Age-y, leaving the spiritual experience for the reader to feel implicitly through his descriptions and the DVD. In fact, he has multiple objectives: enthrall, entice, educate, honor the stewards of the San Ignacio Lagoon, lobby, give the rich ideas for helping (and politicians reasons for voting), and gain new friends of the whale world-wide. He achieves all of these goals without losing any of his audiences. His brief history of whale hunting is especially powerful.
My wife Susan and I watched the 30 minute companion DVD. Like the book, it's pitch perfect and wonderfully complementary. We've both been fortunate to get close to whales in waters off Northern California, but Thompson's images of whale encounters in the San Ignacio Lagoon are nothing short of astonishing, truly powerful and moving. This is a beautifully produced video, with a quality worthy of network broadcast. Little wonder that Thompson and this book and DVD have garnered the respect and imprimatur of no less an icon than primatologist Jane Goodall. Like Goodall, Thompson is making an impact. Highest recommendation.
John Grissim, author of The Lost Treasure of the Concepcion and Pure Stoke
Book Description
This handy guide provides the information needed to identify all the species of marine mammals that occur along the California coast, and tells the best places to observe them. It also presents a compact survey of the remarkable adaptations that enable these astonishing creatures to survive in their ocean environment.
The illustrations for this revised edition have been completely redone, taking advantage of new findings about the size and shape of flukes, dorsal fins, and other features in whales and dolphins, as well as shapes, sexual differences, and social behavior in seals, sea lions, and sea otters.
Many of the marine mammals described in the book have made tremendous come-backs from near-extinction, notably the gray whales, elephant seals, and sea otters. They need strong protection if they are to be ensured of survival. This volume provides the basis for informed public understanding of these remarkable animals.
Customer Reviews:
I use this each summer for a marine mammal class I teach........2001-04-29
Each summer I teach a one week marine mammal class at the U.S.C. Wrigley Marine Lab at Santa Catalina Island. The class is designed for students with little or no experience with marine mammal biology or the study of these wonderful animals. This is the book I request that they purchase and read during that week, because it is such a complete and accurate collection of information about the marine mammals of California. It contains excellent illustrations, it is brief but thorough, and there are plenty of references if students want to delve deeper into the subject. I highly recommend this book.
Required text for Marine Vertabrates class.......2000-03-25
In the summer of '99 I took a trip with Modesto Junior College and Glendale Community College to a fishing village in Baja, Mexico, called Bahia de Los Angeles to spend some time with marine vertabrates. This book, along with Fishes of the Pacific Coast by Gar Goodson, and Western Birds by Roger Tory Peterson, were our trusty dusty feild guides. Though not as glossy and colorfull as the other mentioned guides, Marine Mammals of California does what it intends to do quite well. Still, it seems to me that in any certain area the relatively few number of different marine mammals (we saw Brydes, and Fin whales, and California Sea Lions) wouldn't necessitate bringing a feild ID guide (we KNEW what we were looking for!). Still, this book is great to thumb through to make comparisons between species, and get the breif facts about range, anatomy, taxonomy, etc. (can you tell me the two main anatomical differences between seals and sea lions? huh? huh?). Final word. If you live near the Pacific, or wish you did, than this book belongs on your shelf, and perhaps in your backpack.
Book Description
From river otters and minks to bobcats, pikas, and flying squirrels, California boasts a diverse and intriguing fauna. But many of these animals can be secretive, shy, and nocturnal and observing them in the wild can be difficult. During the past two decades, the first edition of this popular guide introduced thousands to California's mammals by describing techniques for recognizing their presence, and when possible, methods for watching them in their natural habitats. Mammals of California is now completely revised and updated throughout, making it an ideal companion in the field or classroom.
* Includes 144 line drawings, 143 range maps, and 18 illustrated color plates
* Gives valuable overviews of mammal evolution, biology and anatomy, natural history, and conservation
* Features an expanded and updated section on diseases harbored by wild mammals that can affect humans--including Lyme disease and Hanta virus
Amazon.com
The world rejoices each time a rare giant panda is born. When tiny Hua Mei was born on August 21, 1999, her caregivers gave her extra protection from any potential dangers. For the first weeks of her life, this baby could be viewed only with a camera in her den at the San Diego Zoo. She and her mother, Bai Yun, spent the time bonding--panda papas have nothing to do with the raising of their cubs. Gradually, as Hua Mei grew bigger and stronger, she began to play and eat on her own, and the world was finally allowed to see her when she was about five months old.
Who can resist the allure of a cuddly baby panda? Joanne Ryder, author of many popular books about creatures great and small, including Earthdance, traces the young life of a panda with minimal text and many remarkable photos from the Zoological Society of San Diego. Curious readers will learn that, at birth, panda cubs are more than 800 times smaller than their mothers and that they are blind for the first few months of life. Parents and kids will love reading this book together and contemplating the parallels between fragile panda cubs and human babies. (Ages 3 to 7) --Emilie Coulter
Book Description
Meet Hua Mei
With fewer than one thousand giant pandas left in the world, the birth of Hua Mei at the San Diego Zoo in 1999 was a cause for celebration. Little Panda chronicles the adorable panda's first year, as she grows from a four-ounce newborn to a curious, playful cub.
Award-winning writer Joanne Ryder's appealing, simple yet scientifically accurate text and irresistible, exclusive photographs from the World-Famous San Diego Zoo combine to make Little Panda a treasure for animal lovers of all ages.
Customer Reviews:
Panda baby.......2007-07-08
This book with its beautiful real-life illustrations would be a great one to give a child as a gift. It would acquaint him or her with the life process of a baby panda's first year. The words and sentences are short and readable for a child in the early grades. It would also be a good read-aloud book for someone with a small child who loves to be read to. I highly recommend it.
Nice factual book for 4-6 year olds.......2007-01-15
My daughter is panda-crazy, so we purchased this book as a Christmas present. It was everything we hoped it would be: nice overview of panda development leveled for kindergarten/first grade readers. It has straighforward text for younger readers, coupled with more detailed information for older readers. With my 3 year old son, we read the straight text; with my 5 year old daughter we read the little detail blurbs as well. It has lovely photos and since it deals with a baby panda it was a huge hit with my kids. I would recommend this to anyone with kids who love pandas, or anyone looking to add science/nature books to their pre-school/kindergarten collection. Additionally, I would recommend Emperor's Egg, which deals in a similar way with penguins, although it uses illustrations rather than photos.
If you didn't love Pandas before this book, you will now!.......2005-07-15
The photos in this book are absolutely amazing! Starting with Hua Mei's 1st teeny tiny black & white photo camera that had been installed inside the panda den, and the book ending 1 year later. I can't say enough about the photos!
This is the 1st year in the life of Hua Mei and is pronounced Hwa May. In China, one name can mean different thing and Hua Mei's means Splended Beauty AND China-USA. The birth of Hua Mei in 1999 in the San Diego Zoo connects both China, the country where pandas roam and here in the Us where she lives.
This is one of those books that grows with it's young reader! The author Joanne Ryder lots of information on each page. There is a big bold font that tells the story and then a smaller not so small font that gives additional information! I just can not say enought wonderful words about this book! A definate book to have in your home library!
Beautiful and educational.......2001-03-22
I'll be perfectly honest: I love following Hua Mei's story at the San Diego Zoo web site. I'm a complete sucker for panda stories. So I was pleased to finally see a more permanent record of Hua Mei's first year.
While I bought this book for the photographs (which are plentiful, large, and beautiful), this book should also appeal to children and parents because of its text (or perhaps I should say "texts"). The author has written two parallel texts: one fairly simple and straightforward for younger readers, printed in large type, and a slightly more complex one in smaller type, giving more detailed information about pandas. By creating a book that appeals to more than one reading level, Ms. Ryder has given us a book that parents will be able to share with their young children as they grow older and learn to read.
Make no mistake; this is not a detailed textbook about pandas. If that's what you're looking for, I recommend George Schaller's LAST PANDA (also available from Amazon.com, coincidentally enough). But this is a good introduction for young children, who may be able to indentify with the young Hua Mei. For older panda lovers, this is an excellent collection of photographs. The only thing that keeps me from giving this book five stars (besides the fact that I never give anything five stars) is that I can never get enough information about Hua Mei.
Book Description
Adelina is a ten-year-old girl who lives in a quiet fishing village in Baja California, Mexico. Adelina has some very special friends-the gray whales-that come every year to spend the winter months and give birth to their calves in the protected lagoon near her home.
This beautifully photographed photo-essay introduces young readers to a very special way of life, offering insights into the world of these giant mammals of the sea.
Text and photographs by Richard Sobol.
Customer Reviews:
I love this book!.......2007-03-16
I have actually been to the San Ignacio Lagoon where the whales come and where Adelina lives. This book is a very nice story and a nice introduction to gray whales and their lives, also the life of a young girl in rural Mexico. The photos are beautiful and it's well written from the viewpoint of the little girl. I bought this book in the town of San Ignacio after going whale-watching myself near where Adelina lives. Any kid interested in whales or biology or the ocean or Mexico would enjoy it I think.
Whales...up-close and personal.......2004-06-24
Some beautiful photographs of whales grace this book that introduces readers to Adelina, a girl from Laguna San Ignacio, a small village in Baja California. Readers see a glimpse of her life, hear her grandfather's story about his first encounter with a gray whale, and learn of the whale watching tours that her family conducts for tourists. The whales often come right up to the small boats, affording the people and whale a close-up view of each other. The gray whales winter there and raise their young before heading back to cooler waters in the spring. This book, told as a story, contains ecological, sociological, and zoological information. There is a forward by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Karen Woodworth-Roman
Average customer rating:
- Well Well Well
- Touching but funny
- Congratulations to author for speaking out
- A True Story About What Mistreated Elephants go through.
- Great Story barely overcomes high price and poor grammer
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Keepers of the Ark
Ronald J. Ryan
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Mammals
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Conservation
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Endangered Species
| Conservation
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
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Love, War, and Circuses: The Age-Old Relationship Between Elephants and Humans
ASIN: 0738806897 |
Book Description
For many years, elephants have been exhibited in zoos and parks all over the world. This is the true story of how they were cared for, handled, and trained during the time the author worked as an elephant keeper at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. For the first time, the public can get a behind the scenes look at the daily life of captive elephants.
Customer Reviews:
Well Well Well.......2005-09-15
I must admit that reading the review I wrote before is quite funny. I thought that you, Kathy, being so "intelligent" would notice the date realize that I wrote that 3, almost 4 years ago. I was 11/12 when that was written and now I am 16 going to be 17. So I'm sorry but your attempt at a "Low Blow" has failed. Maybe three years from now you can critize this review.
Touching but funny.......2005-02-16
I think it's hilarious that, in defending her father against Mr. Whitt's crticism of his poor grammar and spelling, Ms. Ross-Ryan uses words and grammar that are unrecognizable as English and do, indeed, make her father look like a literary genius. The apple really does not fall far from the tree.
Congratulations to author for speaking out.......2004-11-20
I found this book to be nothing short of a gripping and devestating account of the dilemma facing captive elephants and their keepers. Ryan writes out of highly personal convinction and candor. The result is an intimate and revealing memoir I found difficult to put down. This is not a comprehensive guide to elephant captivity or training methods and should not be purchased as such. Instead, it should be read as one man's experience and eventual confrontation with a sad and pervasive mentality surrounding treatment of captive animals. Ryan succeeds in making us (those of us with compassion for our fellow animals) frustrated, horrified and desperate to believe in an alternative to violent methods of keeping elephants.
My hearty congratulations to the author for his courage. Essential reading for policy makers, animal keepers and those frequenting zoos. There must be a better way!
Daniel Ferguson
Montreal, Canada
A True Story About What Mistreated Elephants go through........2002-01-21
First off I would like to say to Mr. Mark Witt, that reveiw was very harsh considering all the hard labor my Father went through to write this book! He deserves a A (insted of a B!) I'm sure that if u were to write a book it would not be perfect either! Anyways i belive this book is the cold hard truth about what these animals go through. I would definatly recomend this to people that are intersted in this area.
Great Story barely overcomes high price and poor grammer.......2000-06-22
As an Animal Rights activist, I ordered this book with greatenthusiasm, thinking that I would get a lot of first hand informationabout how animals are trained and treated in the zoo and circus industries. My first impression of "Keepers of the Ark" was when I got the envelope in the mail and thought, "that's an awfully small book for ..[the price]." Especially for a paperback!
After reading the book I can honestly say that it was informative, enlightening, and even enjoyable. But I was also taken aback at how lousy the editing was! There were spelling errors, grammar errors, run on sentences, just like as if it was taken directly from someone's notebook with no editing what so ever. Considering that the author really lays into the management people above him while he worked in the WAP for not having any college degrees (while he did), it rings as being pretty hypocritical that the published work looks so bad from the grammar standpoint.
And the book really is too expensive for a 180+ page paperback.
The author gets B, and the publisher a D-.
I would suggest checking it out from the library instead of buying it.
Product Description
An extensive yet simple guide focusing on the interesting and memorable features of all Southern California mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Over 100 full-color and b/w photographs.
Average customer rating:
- Fantastic nonfiction for children
- Pier 39 - here we come
- Interesting and educational
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San Francisco's Famous Sea Lions
Kat Shehata
Manufacturer: Angel Bea Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Nonfiction
| Mammals
| Animals
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Nonfiction
| Marine Life
| Animals
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
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This is San Francisco (This is . . .)
ASIN: 0971784302 |
Book Description
The remarkable story of northern California's sea lion colony and their amazing relocation to San Francisco after the devastating earthquake of 1989 is chronicled in this lively book. Each year over 110 million visitors converge on the docks at Pier 39 to enjoy the barking, fighting, and playing of as many as 1,000 sea lions. Such fun questions as why most of the pier's sea lions are male, why they seem to fight all the time, and why they choose to remain in San Francisco are answered, and young students learn how injured sea lions are rescued, rehabilitated, and released; what these curious mammals eat; how fast and far they can swim; and who and what their enemies are.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic nonfiction for children.......2002-09-21
As an elementary school teacher, nonfiction material that is informative and entertaining is hard to find. This book with its wonderful illustrations opens many doors for discussions about animal behavior, adaptations, and their habitats.
Pier 39 - here we come.......2002-09-21
The topic of this book is interesting to children. It deals with factual events, yet explains them in a manner that children can follow and enjoy. Characters (i.e., sea lions) with their own "personalities" are used to explain important conservation points.
This book is of particular interest to our children because of their interest in animals, particularly sea life. Pier 39 is now in our list of places to visit.
Interesting and educational.......2002-09-21
The accurate,interesting history combined with colorful illustration takes you to Pier 39. Real life characters that you can care about. Beautifully done.
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