Secret of the Sleepless Whales . . . and More! (Animal Secrets Revealed!)

Grade 4–6—Despite its tabloid style, this book actually does a thorough job of explaining the behaviors of some marine mammals and the scientific methods used to investigate them. Each chapter opens with initial questions that aroused the curiosity of scientists. The team that worked on the specific issue is identified, and the methodology they used to answer their scientific inquiry is described in detail. Much of the information is provided in a jaunty style; readers learn how dolphins are able to dive very deep; how harbor seals track prey underwater via their ultrasensitive whiskers; how dolphin mothers in Shark Bay, Australia, use marine sponges to protect their snouts as they probe the ocean floor for food; and how the Weddell seal of Antarctica uses a blast of bubbles to dislodge bork fish from underwater sea ice. The full-color photos are interesting but not always of great quality. Although a grammar check might have eliminated some of the questionable usages and errors, the content is solid with seamless explanations of terms, and it's fun to read.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA
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