Whales

Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-- Whales in their natural habitat, the sea and the sky, are lavishly illustrated in this introduction to their physical characteristics and biology. The full-color photographs are lush, the text is succinct, and the oversized format sets off the large scale of these huge, magnificent creatures. Unusual close-ups show body angles not often seen. One particularly effective shot shows a humpback mother and her baby with their long flippers gleaming white through the dark blue water. Humpbacks often feed together, and their bodies, photographed glistening with water, look like huge black rocks. Representational species of the 90 kinds of whales in the world are described in a flowing text perfectly accented by the photographs. A beautiful and factual addition for all collections. --Frances E. Millhouser, Reston Regional Library, VA

Seymour Simon has been called "the dean of the [children's science book] field" by the New York Times. He has written more than 250 books for young readers and is the recipient of the Science Books & Films Key Award for Excellence in Science Books, the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people, and the Educational Paperback Association Jeremiah Ludington Award. He is also the recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature. Mr. Simon lives in Great Neck, New York.