Here Come the Humpbacks!

by April Pulley Sayre, Jamie Hogan (Illustrator)

Overview

In this latest book by acclaimed science writer April Pulley Sayre, young readers follow along as a mother humpback whale and her calf make their annual trek from the warm waters of the Caribbean to their summer feeding grounds off the coast of New England and back again. Within this extraordinary story of migration, Sayre provides information about how humpback whales breathe, sing, and how they got their name—a secondary layer of text expands upon the more intricate details.

But aside from the basics about the humpback whale species, HERE COME THE HUMPBACKS! also delves into the dangers these whales face—from other mammals and sea life such as hungry orcas, to man-made threats like pollution and giant ships.

Jamie Hogan’s stunning, rich pastel illustrations complement Sayre’s text beautifully, and make this book a great choice for a read-aloud in the classroom, library, or at home.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580894067
Publisher:	Charlesbridge
Publication date:	02/01/2013
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	664,892
Product dimensions:	10.80(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	AD790L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

April Pulley Sayre is the award-winning author of dozens of books, including MEET THE HOWLERS!; TURTLE, TURTLE, WATCH OUT!; and ONE IS A SNAIL, TEN IS A CRAB, an ALA Notable Book. She lives in South Bend, Indiana.

Read an Excerpt

Flippers paddle. Flukes push. In every ocean on Earth, humpback whales swim.

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Here Come the Humpbacks!"
by .
Copyright © 2013 April Pulley Sayre.
Excerpted by permission of Charlesbridge.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

In a story about a humpback whale calf, Sayre balances informative text with polished prose that lightly personifies the animals: “Head down, in deeper water, a male whale sings. His song rhymes and repeats. All the male whales in the area know this year’s song—yet they vary it, like jazz musicians onstage.” As mother and calf move from the shallows into the open ocean, they encounter other creatures and objects, which Sayre introduces in offset text about whale-watching tours, barnacles, suckerfish, chemical pollution, and more. Hogan’s charcoal and pastel illustrations subtly vary texture, light, and shades of blue to convey the changes in the submarine environment as the whales travel. Ages 4–7. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"Flippers paddle. Flukes push. In every ocean on Earth, humpback whales swim." So begins this introduction to humpback migration. Sayre structures her tale around a mother whale, beginning as she is about to give birth and migrate north to colder waters with her calf. Their journey will be long, and they will face many dangers, man-made and natural. The primary text features fairly short sentences, onomatopoeia and simple vocabulary to engage younger readers. Italicized asides interspersed throughout go into greater depth for older children and their grown-ups, discussing whale songs, food sources and survival challenges to name just a few. Deep blues and greens highlighted with white crests are rendered in charcoal and pastel on sanded paper, providing a textural immediacy that plunges readers into the ocean. The occasional placement of black text over Hogan's appropriately murky depths occasionally makes reading a challenge. A conclusion provides more detailed information on migration and studying whales. There's plenty of drama and appeal in this primary-grade introduction. (Informational picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews