Author(s): Alex Boersma, Nick Pyenson

Planet Earth | Sea Life | History & Politics | Climate Change | Picture

Almost 200 years ago . . . Our journey begins with the birth of a bowhead whale, the longest-living mammal in the world. Over the course of her life in the Arctic, the bowhead whale witnesses many changes: from an era of peace and solitude to one of oil rigs and cruise liners.With gorgeous, detailed, and striking illustrations, this well- researched and thoughtfully curated nonfiction story captures the magic and beauty of the natural world, while also providing a thoughtful account of how humans have impacted our changing ecosystems and presenting a call-to-action for protecting the environment.

Review:

Narrative nonfiction at its best, helping readers understand the impact of global warming or even simply wildlife from a unique perspective. --School Library Journal

An excellent nonfiction picture book about a unique and beautiful creature and the dangers climate change is bringing. --Booklist

A fine introduction for whale aficionados and a clarion call for climate change awareness. --Kirkus

[T]ouching and informative... --Horn Book Magazine

[A] reverent fictional tale of a bowhead whale, spans two centuries, centering the world's longest-living mammal while focusing attention on environmental changes that threaten it and other species. --Publishers Weekly

Author Biography: Nick Pyenson is the curator of fossil marine mammals at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. Along with the highest research awards from the Smithsonian, he has also received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Before becoming an independent scientific illustrator, Alex Boersma worked at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Articles on her research have appeared in the New York Times, BBC News, Nature, and the Washington Post.