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    The Children's Book Review

    Whale of Wonder, by Marie-Paule Mahoney | Dedicated Review

    Dr. Jen HarrisonBy Dr. Jen Harrison3 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Animal Books Author Showcase Environment & Ecology Picture Books
    Whale of Wonder by Marie-Paule Mahoney Dedicated Review
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    Review of Whale of Wonder
    Sponsored* | All opinions are our own
    The Children’s Book Review

    Whale of Wonder

    Written by Marie-Paule Mahoney

    Illustrated by Ginger Triplett

    Ages 4-8 | 42 Pages

    Publisher: Outskirts Press Inc | ISBN: 978-1-9772-2825-3

    What to Expect: Natural history, environmental awareness, animal rights.

    Notch has lots of questions for his mama, Tahlequah. For example, why can’t he understand what other orca are saying if they are not in his pod? Why is Grandma so skinny? Why is there not enough food for everyone in the pod? Why did Mama carry his baby sister on her nose for so long? And why, oh why, do humans want to kidnap baby orca and dump trash into their home, the sea? In her patient answers to Notch’s questions, Tahlequah not only reveals the devastation humans have wrought on marine life but also the sophistication, complexity, and intelligence of orca whale culture.

    Whale of Wonder is a beautifully composed volume that narrates the true story of the mother whale, Tahlequah, who was documented carrying her dead baby on her nose for 17 days in 2018. From the moving quotation by 13th century Persian poet Jalal ad-Din Rumi, with which the volume opens, to the gentle washes of watercolor and digital imagery that illustrate the story, the book emphasizes our connection to nature and the responsibility we have to care for it. The narrative itself is accompanied by a factual afterword, detailing the lifestyles of real orca whales and the challenges to survival they face from human activity and climate change.

    Links to the coverage of Tahlequah’s story in the media are also provided, allowing readers to learn more about these magnificent creatures. Moving and inspirational, this is a great volume for young nature lovers and activists.

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    About the Author

    Marie-Paule Mahoney was born and grew up in Brittany, on the west coast of France and now lives in the foothills of New York State. Before retirement, she taught French in a Waldorf School over 20 years, as well as at the State University of New York. Her professional career includes the publication of The French Connection and as a co-author of En Français. In the last few years, she has taken a greater interest in nature, wildlife and conservation. She co-authored Molly and Babou and wrote Coco. Tahlequah’s heroic journey inspired her to write Whale of Wonder.

    Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Whale of Wonder, by Marie-Paule Mahoney. Learn more about getting a book review …

    What to Read Next:

    1. A Whale of the Wild, by Rosanne Parry | Dedicated Review
    2. A Book About Whales, by Andrea Antinori | Book Review
    3. Exploring the Incredible Ocean with Children’s Books
    4. Happy Mamas, by Kathleen T. Pelley | Dedicated Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Animal Rights Dedicated Review Environmental Ginger Triplett Marie-Paule Mahoney Natural History Books Ocean Animals Orcas Whales
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    Dr. Jen Harrison
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    Dr. Jen Harrison provides writing and research services as the CEO of Read.Write.Perfect. She completed her Ph.D. in Children’s and Victorian Literature at Aberystwyth University in Wales, in the UK. After a brief spell in administration, Jen then trained as a secondary school English teacher and worked for several years teaching Secondary School English, working independently as a private tutor of English, and working in nursery and primary schools. She has been an editor for the peer-reviewed journal of children’s literature, Jeunesse, and has published academic work on children’s non-fiction, YA speculative fiction, and the posthuman.

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