Turner, Pamela. The Dolphins of Shark Bay.

Turner, Pamela.  The Dolphins of Shark Bay.  Houghton Mifflin     2013  76p  $18.99  ISBN 978-0-547-71638-1 series: Scientists In the Field #8  ms/hs  Nonfiction  E-BN

The author, Pamela S. Turner, goes to Western Australia to introduce Janet Mann and an unforgettable community of dolphins.  The author has written a very easy-to-read and informative text on dolphins for readers for all ages.  She presents the information in small segments with accompanying examples and photographs to support her facts.  Students will gain much from reading about Janet’s experiences with the dolphins over the past twenty-some years.  The flow and balance of the text with full-color visuals presents a very stimulating book for both younger and older readers.  The use of beautifully rendered photographs of such subjects as mother/child behavior and sponging (using tools) help the reader to zero in on important facts.  The inclusion of photographs and a glossary/index make this a useful research book.  As an adult, I enjoyed reading this well-written book.  I also learned many details about the dolphin that I wasn’t aware of before.

Summary: The author, Pamela S. Turner, goes to Western Australia to introduce Janet Mann and an unforgettable community of dolphins.  She has produced a very easy-to-read and informative text on dolphins for readers for all ages, organized in small segments with accompanying examples and photographs to support her facts.  

Dolphins                                                          --Linda McNeil

Gregory, Josh. Dolphins.

Gregory, Josh.    Dolphins.   Scholastic/ Childrens Press   48P   $25.20978-0-531-20900-4 elem  Series: Nature's Children (Scholastic/Childrens)  Good       

This volume is appealing and readable, providing an engaging overview of dolphin habitat, behavior, and survival. 

The photographs are eye-catching.  Each full-page color photo is paired with a page of informative text.  Unfortunately, many of the crisp, colorful photos are truncated because parts of them are trapped in the book’s “gutter.”  The “Fact File” feature at the front of the book will appeal to young researchers, who will find this summary useful for reports. 

One other caveat: Pages 16-17 focus on dolphin diets. The photograph of an orca (or “killer whale”) and the inclusion of orcas in the text may confuse readers.  The text does not explain that orcas are the largest breed of dolphin until page 33.                               --Hilary Welliver

Webb, Sophie Far From Shore

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

 

Stewart, Melissa Shark or Dolphin?: how do you know?

Stewart, Melissa        Shark or Dolphin?: how do you know?      

Enslow            2011   24p   21.26    978-0-7660-3680-2           

elem                Which Animal is Which? (Enslow)  E-BNes           

Item by item this text gives the differences between sharks and dolphins. 

Very clearly presented, well illustrated, and great for young children.

            Posing the question, ╥Can you tell the difference between a shark and a

dolphin?╙, this text proceeds to show the differences in simple yet very clear

terms.  It shows that a shark is a fish, a dolphin is a mammal.  Therefore the

shark gets oxygen from the water and a dolphin breathes air.  It shows the

differences between a tail and a fluke, scales and skin, gills and lungs,

whether the baby being called a pup or a calf and how the mother does or does

not take care of the baby, and whether they hunt by smell or sound.  Then all

the differences are summed up in a comparison chart.   

   The photography is beautiful and  very clearly illustrates the point being

made on each page.  The photography and the format will entice children and will

clearly answer their questions.  This is a wonderful addition to every

elementary school library.   There are five titles in the series which helps

young children see the differences between sets of similar animals.  

Theal, Joan