Seals and Sea Lions of the World (Of the World)

Book Description

Every title contains: -Where the animal lives, what it eats, when it sleeps, how it raises its young, and much more. -Over 30 vivid, full color photos and illustrations. -Sidebar 'Fun Facts,' an index and a list of useful Internet Sites.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Resource for Children.......2006-06-01

This is one book in a series about animals. The layout is good and it contains good information which is complete but not too technical for children. The facts used as picture captions and the "fun facts" side bars are a good idea because your eye is drawn to them though the photographs could be better and more varied. This book should be pleasing to reading children and intice them to check out others in the series

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Dolphins (Our Wild World)
Julia Vogel
Manufacturer: Northword Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1559717769

Book Description

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JP
Pipaluk and the Whales
A touching, beautiful picturebook based on a true story.

Pipaluk And The Whales
John Himmelman
Manufacturer: National Geographic Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0792282175
Release Date: 2002-02-01

Book Description

Based on an actual event, this moving story tells how a young Chukchi girl named Pipaluk saves the lives of thousands of beluga whales trappped in a channel with ice closing in around them in the Russian Arctic. When Pipa and her father discover the whales, their entire village comes together in a valiant effort to rescue the creatures. Finally, an ice-breaker arrives, cutting an opening to the sea for the whales. But the engine noise frightens the creatures, and it takes a clever plan of Pipa's to lure the whales to open water. At the end of the book, an author's note describes the real-life event that inspired this beautiful story.

Customer Reviews:

JP.......2007-05-14

A wonderful true story about a community that worked together to save the whales trapped in the sea ice.

Pipaluk and the Whales.......2006-03-06

This is a wonderful book based on a true story. My son, who is 5 years old, loves this story and asks me to read it again and again. Illustrations are superb too.

A touching, beautiful picturebook based on a true story........2002-03-29

Written and illustrated by John Himmelman, Pipaluk And The Whales is a touching picturebook based on a true story. A young girl on the Chukchi Peninsula (a part of Russia just across the sea from Alaska) named Pipaluk finds thousands of whales trapped in a narrow opening in the ice. The whales have provided her village with food for centuries, and now it's their turn to help the whales. But all efforts to free the whales are in vain - until Pipaluk has an idea. Pipaluk And The Whales is a truly wonderful story for young readers and is filled with gentle, wintry illustrations.

The Whale Warriors: The Battle at the Bottom of the World to Save the Planet's Largest Mammals

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Eye-Opening Trip
fabulous writing, high adventure
A Fantastic Read
Adventure, poetry, and morality

The Whale Warriors: The Battle at the Bottom of the World to Save the Planet's Largest Mammals
Peter Heller
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1416532463

Book Description

For the crew of the eco-pirate ship the Farley Mowat, any day saving a whale is a good day to die. In The Whale Warriors, veteran adventure writer Peter Heller takes us on a hair-raising journey with a vigilante crew on their mission to stop illegal Japanese whaling in the stormy, remote seas off the forbidding shores of Antarctica. The Farley is the flagship of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and captained by its founder, the radical environmental enforcer Paul Watson. The Japanese, who are hunting endangered whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, in violation of several international laws, know he means business: Watson has sunk eight whaling ships to the bottom of the sea.

For two months, Heller was aboard the vegan attack vessel as it stalked the Japanese whaling fleet through the howling gales and treacherous ice off the pristine Antarctic coast. The ship is all black, flies under a Jolly Roger, and is outfitted with a helicopter, fast assault Zodiacs, and a seven-foot blade attached to the bow, called the can opener.

As Watson and his crew see it, the plight of the whales is also about the larger crisis of the oceans and the eleventh hour of life as we know it on Earth. The exploitation of endangered whales is emblematic of a terrible overexploitation of the seas that is now entering its desperate denouement. The oceans may be easy to ignore because they are literally under the surface, but scientists believe that the world's oceans are on the verge of total ecosystem collapse. Our own survival is in the balance.

With Force 8 gales, monstrous seas, and a crew composed of professional gamblers, Earthfirst! forest activists, champion equestrians, and ex-military, the action never stops. In the ice-choked water a swimmer has minutes to live. The Japanese factory ship is ten times the tonnage of the Farley. The sailors on board both ships know that there will be no rescue in this desolate part of the ocean. Watson presses his enemy while Japan threatens to send down defense aircraft and warships, Australia appeals for calm, New Zealand dispatches military surveillance aircraft, the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence issues a piracy warning, and international media begin to track the developing whale war.

For the Sea Shepherds there is no compromise. If the charismatic, intelligent Great Whales cannot be saved, there is no hope for the rest of the planet. Watson aims his ship like a slow torpedo and gives the order: "Tell the crew, collision in two minutes." In 35-foot seas, it is a deadly game of Antarctic chicken in which the stakes cannot be higher.

Customer Reviews:

Eye-Opening Trip .......2007-10-17

Read "The Whale Warriors" and you will never, I suspect, skip another story about whale hunting or international whaling conferences or anything in newspapers and magazines about the quality of our oceans and their health. Full disclosure that Peter Heller is a Denver-based friend but I had no idea about the level of detail and eye-opening account he tells in this book. The entire issue of whaling is told with balance and perspective and passion and zeal. The details are worthy of the most attentive reporter, the depth of analysis carries weight and heft. Finally, the big moral question is well probed. Your appetite for fish may drop, but your interest in people who spend their lives making a difference in this world will increase. To boot, the writing is terrific. Many writers have "done" the Antarctic but Heller brings a fresh, cool touch. "The next morning at nine we rounded the high cliffs of Cathedral Rock guarding the eastern cape and turned north into South Bay. Since dawn the south coast had been a ragged rampart of tall fluted cliffs and sharp guard rocks at the mouth of rugged coves. Low scudding clouds and damp air. Fog boiling over the tops of the headlands. As soon as we turned the corner, the wind hit, twenty knots offshore from the northwest, and cold, raking the bay into gray chop." This is a trip well worth taking -- to the Antartic and deep inside your own awarness of government-backed exploitation of natural resources and what committed soldiers can accomplish if they decide to make a difference.

fabulous writing, high adventure.......2007-09-29

This book has it all -- life threatening confrontations on icy seas, big boats crewed by men who don't mind flouting international law to continue an outdated and murderous hunt, a good guy with the face of a sea otter, nerves of tempered steel, and a heart full of devotion to the world's largest mammals... and Peter Heller's beautiful narrative that can swing from exquisite descriptions of Antarctica's ice coast to Ken Follet-caliber suspense. Once you've digested its message about the imminent collapse of the great whales as well as the other fisheries in our oceans, you'll never be able to order sushi again. Buy this book for the pleasure of the read, or buy it for the disturbing message about the state of our marine ecosystems -- it somehow makes the world feel more beautiful and more fragile than ever before. It made me feel simultaneously blessed to live on earth, and empowered to help it heal or slip away, depending on my actions. Bravo, Peter Heller! I'd give this book six stars if I could.

A Fantastic Read.......2007-09-28

This book is Peter Heller's best to date, it really grabs you and keeps you following along with interest the whole way through. He gets a feel for the people he's befriended in this scary landscape, and allows the reader to understand what goes through their heads. He has a wonderfully poetic sense of narrative, he picks words that come to him, uniquely apt words that really make the story come alive. Five stars, for me.

Adventure, poetry, and morality.......2007-09-06

Adrenaline is Peter Heller's drug of choice, and for those who share his addiction, reading this book is a fine and legal way to satisfy your craving. You will be carried away by his graphic descriptions of life on board the Farley Mowat, a small boat of doubtful seaworthiness manned by an all volunteer crew whose strength is dedication rather than experience, facing 100 mile an hour winds, 35 foot waves, 32 degree water, and island sized icebergs. The captain's sense of mission begs for comparison to Ahab's pursuit of the great white whale in Moby Dick, but in this case Evil is represented by a very large whaling factory boat backed by the full power of the Japanese government. Captain Watson does not believe in the efficacy of moral persuasion, he believes physical threat and intimidation are the only effective deterrents and to this end willingly puts his ship and crew at risk in a game of chicken on the high seas. You know, of course, that at least the author survived, otherwise your wouldn't be enjoying this tale he wrote, but it is easy to get absorbed and forget this fact, so the suspense continues to mount - the kind of reading experience every one has got to love, with the possible exception of the author's mother.
If your reading interests are more aesthetic or cerebral, Peter Heller has something for you, too. In addition to being a professional adventurer, he is also a poet - I mean a very good one who writes poetry that most people can't understand. In this book he displays his talent, using beautiful and accessible language, to evoke unforgettable images of sky, water, ice, albatross, penguins, seals, porpoises, whales, and people that most of us will never experience in person.
Interspersed with the adventure and beauty is a running comment about the precarious state of the world's oceans and their inhabitants, how they got that way, what to do about it, and the moral and health implications of eating fish - or any other animal products, for that matter. Neither a sermon nor a political tract, and remarkably free of ideology, this information is good food for thought. Speaking of which, after reading this book you almost certainly will never eat whale meat and will probably at least hesitate to eat any fish at all. You may even adopt a vegan diet and lifestyle like the crew of the Farley Mowat.
In closing I feel compelled to reveal that I now know Peter Heller does not always tell the truth - at least not the whole truth. I leave it up to the reader to decide about the morality involved here. On December 25th, 2005, Peter called by satellite from the Antarctic Ocean to wish his mother and family a Merry Christmas and cheerfully told her everything was going fine - not to worry. On that day the Farley Mowat was experiencing dangerously bad weather and an imminent confrontation with the Japanese whaler which could have landed them all in 32 degree water with a chance of rescue and survival close to zero. In the book, Peter did not mention having made this call. The only way I know about it is (a belated full disclosure here) that he is my stepson; his mother is my wife.

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Walker's Marine Mammals of the World
Ronald M. Nowak
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0801873436

Book Description

From the giant bottlenosed whale and the West Indian manatee to the crabeater seal and hourglass dolphin, from the pygmy sperm whale to the spotted-necked otter, marine mammals are among the most fascinating--and most watched--of the earth's many animal species. Some, such as dolphins, are known for their intelligence, friendliness toward humans, and surprisingly sophisticated social behavior. In addition, all these animals are sources of fascination for the special adaptations they have undergone for life in and around the water, for their unique methods of communication ("whale song"), and for the endangered status of many species.

Now Ronald M. Nowak offers a comprehensive guide to this fascinating and varied order of mammals. Walker's Marine Mammals of the World includes scientific and common names, the number and distribution of species, measurements and physical traits, habitat, daily and seasonal activity, population dynamics, home range, social life, reproduction, longevity, and status of threatened species.

A foreword by John E. Heyning is engagingly written for the general reader, while a more detailed and substantive introduction by Randall R. Reeves and Brent S. Stewart discusses issues in greater depth for the specialist. Illustrated with more than 140 detailed black and white photographs, this book will be welcomed by marine mammal experts and enthusiasts alike.

The World We Live In (The Development of Life, Volume 2)

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The World We Live In (The Development of Life, Volume 2)

Manufacturer: Time Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Product Description

1962 HC no dj as issued. Vol 2 The Development of Life. By the Editors of Life and Lincoln Barnett. Vol 2 begins with pg 117 to 210. Contents: The Age of Mammals, Creatures of the Sea, the Coral Reef, Land of the Sun. Photos and illustrations are B&W or color.

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Otterly fascinating
The best popular book available on the loveable otter

The World of the Sea Otter
Stefani Paine
Manufacturer: Sierra Club Books for Children
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Mammals | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0871563754

Book Description

Long admired by nature lovers and marine scientists, the sea otter is extraordinarily well adapted to the sea, where it can spend an entire life span eating, sleeping, giving birth, and rearing its young without ever coming ashore. Richly illustrated, The World of the Sea Otter is both an authoritative natural history and a visual celebration of this playful creature.

"This book is a work of art -- from the attractive format, to the superb color photos, to the clear writing ... the love that both author and photographer obviously have for their subject makes this book a delight to any reader.... Highly Recommended" -- The Book Report

"This graceful weaving of text and photography combines the natural history of the sea otter with the story of the species' struggle for survival.... The end result is a call to action for this endangered species." -- Animals

"The World of the Sea Otter is both a scientific look into the life of the sea otter and a pictorial showcase of the creature's habits, hunting methods, and social behavior, including its fight for survival."

-- Outdoor Travel & Photography

Customer Reviews:

Otterly fascinating.......2005-07-13

This beautifully illustrated book tells us plenty about the smallest sea mammal. It begins by showing some wonderful pictures of sea otters and telling about their ultradensely furry waterproof coats. A sea otter can wander onto land, but it is very clumsy out of the water. It may spend its whole life in the sea.

About 300 years ago, there were over 150,000 sea otters, maybe twice that many. But there was extensive hunting which reduced the population to one or two thousand. In 1911, the remaining ones were protected under the Fur Seal agreement. Now, the population is back to 150,000. They tend to live off the California coast, off Vancouver Island, off the Aleutians and off the Kuriles.

Sea otters don't like deep water, because they want to find food on the sea floor. And they prefer a depth of only about 75 feet, although they can dive twice that deep. We get to see photos of sea otters at lunch, and of some of the food available to them.

We also are told of how the sea otter has fared in its interactions with humans. We've hunted them, and threatened them with atom bomb tests and oil spills. But now they seem to be doing better. I think it would be a terrible shame if we were unable to protect these marvellous creatures.

The best popular book available on the loveable otter.......2000-10-08

This book is very well researched and clearly written. However, it is the photography which makes it a masterpiece. Jeff Foott's pictures are incredibly sensitive and perceptive. He takes the reader not only into the nature of the otter itself, but also into the milieu of Monterey Bay with it's abundant food supply, opportunities for procreation, and human and non-human hazards.

Dolphins, Whales, and Manatees of Florida: A Guide to Sharing Their World

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Dolphins, Whales, and Manatees of Florida: A Guide to Sharing Their World
John E., III Reynolds , and Randall S. Wells
Manufacturer: University Press of Florida
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Sea Guide to Whales of the World
Wilfred Watson
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

With more than 260 diving and snorkeling adventures, this gorgeously illustrated guide presents the best marine sites of these Caribbean isles. Organized by island, The Dive Sites of the Cayman Islands, Second Edition, rates each site and describes the conditions, marine life, depths, and access. It also highlights special points of interest and offers features such as the Cayman Turtle Farm, Stingray City, rare and unusual marine life of the Caymans, and underwater photography and video tips.

Customer Reviews:

Not good for snorkeling sites.......2007-01-21

I bought this book with the hopes of learning about good snorkeling sites at Grand Cayman. I wanted information so that I could decide what places would be worth our time and would be okay to take our 9 year to (as well as a map of the location). I was quite disappointed. It describes numererous dive sites and gives a "star rating" for snorkeling of these sites. However, it does not really address snorkeling individually. There are several well known snorkel sites that are not even mentioned in this book. Thankfully, I learned about these sites over the internet so that we can enjoy them during our stay. This book did not help me prepare at all. I imagine it is good for those who dive though.

One of the most definitive books on dives sites for Cayman!.......2003-04-16

Lawson has continued with the attention to detail that he began in the 1st Edition with the best guide to dives sites for the Caymans.

Very logical layout... format is easy to read and particularly interesting to follow...

There are books that might do a good job of describing a particular site or two, but this book is the most comprehensive I've found.

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The Dive Sites of the Cayman Islands, Second Edition: Over 270 Top Dive and Snorkel Sites
Lawson Wood
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OFKIVW

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