Event: Winter’s Tail Virtual Field Trip

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: September 29, 2009

Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again

by Juliana Hatkoff, Isabella Hatkoff, and Craig Hatkoff

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 40 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press (October 1, 2009)

Publisher’s synopsis: When Winter, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, was just three months old, she was rescued from a crab trap off the coast of Florida, and her tail was seriously damaged.  She was rushed to Clearwater Marine Aquarium. It wasn’t clear that she would survive, but to everyone’s amazement, she did. Eventually though, her tail fell off, which caused Winter to compensate by swimming more like a fish than a dolphin. Over time, it was clear that she was seriously damaging her spine. But, for the last year, Winter has been learning to use a prosthetic tail. The idea came from a company that makes prosthetics for humans. It was challenging, but Winter is thriving and using her new tail with great command.

Winter is an inspiration to everyone, especially to children and adults who face challenges themselves. Many follow her blog and write e-mails to her. Day after day, the crowds come to Clearwater for a close-up look at Winter, the little dolphin that could.

Giveaway: Click here for your chance to win a Winter’s Tail prize pack!

• Dolphin Plush
• Dolphin Key Chain
• Winter’s Tail game for Nintendo DS
• Copy of Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again Book

Tags: Craig Hatkoff

Category: Events