Webb, Sophie Far
From Shore
Houghton
Mifflin/Clarion/Graphia/Kingfisher 2011 80p 17.99 978-0-618-59729-1 elm/ms E-BN
Artist/field biologist-naturalist takes
to the Pacific Ocean to explore dolphin populations and the effects of tuna net
fishing industry on this threatened species.
Sophie
Webb has written an outstanding book.
Readers of all ages will find something of interest within its covers,
whether it be a fascinating journal account of a trip around the Pacific Ocean,
artistic renditions of the journey that are soothingly original or a sense of
peace that something is being done to protect natural habitats and ecosystems
from fishing companies that have run amok!
Sophie teaches young readers the terminology: tuna and dolphins swim in large schools, the
tuna are caught in huge nets during a process called purse seining and dolphins
are caught along with the tuna. With the
passing of the U. S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, dolphins are now protected
from this method of destruction.
What
has happened, however, is that populations are stressed, thereby causing decreased
numbers. What is causing the
stress? That is what Sophie and her ship
mates will study aboard the McArthur II as they travel the Southeastern part of
the Pacific Ocean. Amazingly, biologists
are able to procure small plugs of tissue to analyze in the lab by shooting a
bolt at the dolphin, then retracting the bolt from the dolphin’s outer layer by
pulling back the long nylon string which is tied to the bolt. An amazing collection of data and art combine
with Ms. Webb’s powerful writing style making this book is a must-have for all
classrooms. Even the glossary is
user-friendly, with definitions and page numbers for reference. The reader will anxiously await the results
of Sophie’s next exploration. exploration
of dolphin population in its decline Martha Squaresky
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