From the Publisher
"Honey Girl is well-known in her habitat of the waters off northern Oahu...this very personal story should engage animal-loving readers. -Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal
08/01/2017
Gr 1–4—When Honey Girl, an endangered Hawaiian monk seal, is found with a fishhook in her cheek and her tongue cut by fishing line, scientists begin the difficult task of trying to help her. They carefully remove the fishhook and save part of her tongue, and slowly but surely Honey Girl begins to eat fish on her own again. When she is released, scientists track her and make sure she is gaining weight. They are surprised and happy to find that Honey Girl will be having a baby seal, and make sure no one bothers the endangered seals while they are on the beach. Honey Girl makes a recovery and even becomes a grandmother. The importance of protecting animals like Honey Girl and making sure their environment is safe is conveyed through text and the well-lit illustrations. The care the scientists take in helping Honey Girl is evident, and young readers will be able to find out more through the informative back matter, which describes the life cycle of Hawaiian monk seals and details conservation efforts to save them. VERDICT An important book to place in the hands of all future conservationists. Highly recommended.—Selenia Paz, Helen Hall Library, League City, TX
Kirkus Reviews
2016-12-06
Honey Girl is well-known in her habitat of the waters off northern Oahu. Called monk seals because their loose neck skin resembles a monk's cowl, most of these animals live near the uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, but some regularly live near the main Hawaiian Islands and they are designated the state mammal. Although her species is endangered (for many reasons listed in the fact-filled backmatter), Honey Girl has managed to live and bear many pups, so many that she is locally known as "Super Mom." This book examines one period in her life when veterinarians operate on her after she is injured by a large fishhook that's punctured her cheek and fishing line that's been wrapped around her tongue. When she is finally released, scientists track her whereabouts, and a fascinating map is created and shown in the book. She continues to thrive and have other pups, even becoming a grandmother several years after the miracle operation that saves half her tongue. The text is sometimes awkward, concentrating on getting the story down more than on craft. The natural backgrounds, especially the intense blue waters, in the bright illustrations are striking, but the animals and people are not as accomplished. Though a bit rough around the edges, this very personal story should engage animal-loving readers. (additional information, activities) (Informational picture book. 5-9)
