(3) K-3 Illustrated by Wendell Minor. Mia and her family gather on the San Juan Islands to see if Granny, a (real-life) 105-year-old orca whale, will appear. Mia's reflections relate facts about orcas' family structure, habitat, and endangered status. The humans cheer as Granny and her family appear--with new babies--and entertain the crowd with leaps and singing, elegantly rendered in Minor's gouache-watercolor paintings. More orca information is appended.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(2) K-3 Photographs by Robin Lindsey. The Seal Sitters is a Pacific Northwest watch group that educates human beachgoers and protects harbor seals when they come ashore to give birth to and care for their young. Newborn seal Leopard is fortunate to have "kid volunteer" Miles on the case. In the excellent photographs, Leopard's large, dark eyes and expressive mug seem to be smiling right at the viewer.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2012