Whales Passing - Softcover

From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 2-A boy and his father stand on a cliff and watch a pod of orcas swim by. Their conversation is simple, as the man tells his son some things about the animals, and the youngster observes and asks questions. He wonders if the whales can talk, and his father tells him, "They story-tell each day they swim, from here to there and farther still." Then the boy imagines what the whales could be saying about the two people on the shore: "They lack our blubber, sad to say. But humans have no love of fat. Imagine that!" The prose is brief and poetic, sometimes even rhyming, and draws a lovely picture of a few majestic moments when a parent and child make a connection with one another and with another species. The illustrations flow across the pages with color and beauty, realistically portraying the world of both species. A concluding page about orcas will answer questions that may arise, from physical attributes to communication, and touches on what is not known. A lovely read for storytime, and a nice introduction to nature studies. Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System, FL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. Book Description A young boy stands on the beach with his father. As they watch the surf, a pod of Orca whales swim by. After wondering aloud whether the whales can talk like he does, the boy then imagines the whales' conversations, and whether they are talking about him under the bubbling waves, just as he talks about them on the land. "I bet those whales have signposts down below. An ocean mountain or a sunken ship. Maybe another whale that tells them, 'Follow me! We'll make a right at this white rock.' That is, if whales can talk." Backmatter provides facts about these magnificent animals.