Dolphins on the Sand

By Jim Arnosky

Book Overview

After a pod of dolphins becomes beached, human rescuers comfort the distressed dolphins, protecting them from predators and sheltering them until they are strong enough to return to sea. Luminous illustrations and gentle text relate this story, based upon a true-life dolphin rescue witnessed by Arnosky. Full color.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399246061
• ISBN13: 9780399246067
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.4" x 0.5" x 8.8"
• Age Range: 3 to 5 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Kindergarten

Customer Reviews

This story of a pod of stranded dolphins is gripping and the art work is graceful and touching!

The dolphins were "racing and leaping, chasing a school of fish." They leap through the water and into the air, playing and swimming together as a group. When the oldest dolphin grew tired, she swam into shallow water and beached herself on the sand. Very soon the others followed and lay on the sands beside her. The tide began to ebb and the mother decided to take her baby and go back into the safe haven of the ocean, but "there was not enough water to swim" in. They struggled, but were unable to leave the sandbar. The sun began to sink in the sky. The dolphins were weak and becoming dehydrated from lying out on the sand under the hot sun for hours. The baby was "sick and dizzy" and his mother was unable to help him and only made "low sounds" when he nudged her. A man paddling by in a kayak realized the dilemma they were in and went for help. People soon began arriving to give aid and comfort to the stranded dolphins. They splashed water on them and gave what comfort they could throughout the night until the tide began to come back in. The sharks began to arrive, hoping to "ambush the weakened dolphins once they tried to swim." Would the rescuers be able to save the baby, his mother and the others? Any book with the name Jim Arnosky on the cover can be considered to be a sure fire hit with not only the children who browse its pages, but also the adults. The story of the stranded dolphins is gripping and the art work is graceful and touching. Under the author's note, Arnosky briefly talks about the theories as to why whales and dolphins become stranded and mentions that he and his wife Deanna once witnessed one. If you are a dolphin lover, you'll fall in love with this book!