About Marine Mammals: A Guide for Children

PreS-Gr 1—This broad introduction to marine mammals covers major characteristics, using illustrations rendered in soft hues to captivate readers. Basic ideas about habitat, diet, behavior, and biology are conveyed through simple sentences with a focus on similarities and differences. For instance, the sentence "They [marine mammals] may live in warm tropical water…or in cold polar seas" is accompanied by a large illustration of spinner dolphins in bright water near an island and an image of a polar bear on an iceberg surrounded by darker water. Because the text is fairly general, young readers may not understand how these creatures differ from or stack up against other aquatic life. Educators and caregivers will likely need to preempt or follow up this reading with a bit more context. The two concluding spreads promote a simple but true message on ocean preservation ("It is important to protect marine mammals and the places where they live."). An afterword expands on each species featured and provides a bit more about marine mammals in general.