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"A survey of the status quo of whale survival, Young's book describes efforts by the science community to promote cetological research and enjoyment of the earth's great sea creatures. To secure the health of whale pods, nations collaborate on laws that shield habitats from pollutants and hunting. Young emphasizes the beauty and uniqueness of the animals in drawings, maps, and photos featuring Granny, the oldest known whale. Sidebars particularize essential details, including vocalization, echolocation, sanctuaries, and the birth of Makoa, a Pacific dolphin. A ten-page guide to twenty species of whales categorizes shape, size, diet, and world populations, which range from more than one million pilot whales to a headcount of under 500 for the North Pacific Right Whale. The two-page glossary defines integral terms, like megafauna, baleen, and necropsy, the study of cadavers to determine sources of disease and types of endangerment. Bibliographic material outlines print and electronic sources suited to adults and children. Primary and secondary indexing covers mating, the Endangered Species Act, whale oil, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.



A succinct and valuable introduction to whales, Young's book belongs in public and homeschooling libraries, marine museums, and middle school collections, as well as the shelves of hobbyists and students of marine biology."—VOYA