We did not purchase this from Amazon, we borrowed it from the library.
Delightful and detailed large crosshatching colored pen and ink illustrations. It is of note that this is not a storybook - but informational in nature. There are actually two sets of complementary facts being provided simultaneously. While this is an interesting feature throughout the book, there were a few times when it actually disrupted the flow of thought. Facts about blue whales are presented in specific measurements (feet, tons, counts, etc.) as well as relative terms (larger than an elephant, eyes the size of the end of a pencil) and with detailed graphics. We learned interesting facts about migration, birth, nutrition, and communication.
The text was quite extensive and was enjoyed more by our 6-year-old than our 4-year-old. However, the pictures were enough to keep the younger's attention throughout.
Average Rating:
Author: Nicola Davies
Brand: CANDLEWICK PRESS
ISBN: 0763612820
Number Of Pages: 32
Release Date: 2000-08-01
Languages:
Unknown: English
Original Language: English
Published: English
Product Description:
Discover the mysterious, magnificent blue whale.
How big is the blue whale? Bigger than an elephant. Bigger than a dinosaur. The blue whale is the biggest creature that has ever lived on Earth—and one of the most extraordinary. Illustrated by Nick Maland in colors as deep as the sea, Nicola Davies's words will inspire an abiding fascination for this magnificent marine mammal.
Features:
- Satisfaction Ensured
- Design is stylish and innovative.
- Functionality that is Unbeatable.
Available at Amazon
List Price: USD 24.99
Lowest Used Price: USD 2.98
Lowest New Price: USD 15.93
Customer Reviews
Pre-Teen Book
Although it falls in the "picture book" catagory, the art work is suitable for an older child and it offers so much interesting information about blue whales it is perfect for a student in 4th or 5th grade. My pre-teen granddaughter loved the book.
Big Blue Whale
This book is a delight to read out loud to children, the illutrations are excellent and the information that is given is also educational. I would reccomend this book for lower primary use, it could even be used for middle primary use to start of a unit of work on Whales. It is also excellent for just reading to your children at home, or as independant reading material.
Perfect science and read-aloud book.
A wonderfully succinct overview of the blue whale and it's habits.The clear, sweet prose makes delivery of the content easy, and the very fine, soft illustrations demand repeated veiwing. My Preschool and Kindergarten ESL students found it highly engaging. If there's a better science and read-aloud book around I'd really like to know about it. TEN stars.Follow this book up with the superb "Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is?" by Robert E. Wells. Wells' book uses the whales' size as a starting point for exploring the size of the universe and other very big things (the second step involves putting a hundred blue whales in a really big jar). Read my review of Wells' book if you like.
ONE OF THE BEST WHALE BOOKS AVAILABLE!
I'm a whale researcher who has spent much of the last 12 years studying blue whales in the North Pacific. I'm also a mom who loves children's literature. Rarely do I see a book that is so accurate factually while it is captivating and magical! The illustrations are beautiful. I highly recommend it to anyone who has children who are facinated by whales.
