Product Description
This snail may be small, but she's determined to see the world - so she hitches a lift on the tail of an enormous whale. It's an unlikely partnership, but when the whale gets into difficulties he discovers just how good a friend a snail can be ...Perfect for classroom use, this whale-sized edition includes activity ideas, and words and music for the Snail and the Whale Song. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Not for a young toddler
We purchased this book because my two year old son enjoyed Room on the Broom.Unfortunately I think the book is for an older child so it's spent most of the time on my son's bookshelf, untouched.We tried to read through it once but 3/4 through the story, my son was asking for another book instead! He has refused further offers to read the story again.The writing is much more complex, the sentences are long and the story in itself is a bit too winding for my 2.5 year old boy.We hope to begin enjoying it in a year or so.

Small snail to Signicant Snail!
The Snail and the Whale is a beautifully illustrated book, with tongue twisting rhyme and strong themes. The snail wants to explore the world and does so by making an unlikely alliance with a humpback whale. After exploring far away and vast lands, the snail concludes that he feels very small indeed. The snail symolizes young children who are curious about their world, and how they can feel insignificant in the world. However, the smallest creature can make a difference, as in the story the small snail helps his friend the whale and in doing so draws attention to the plight of endangered species and how each individual can make a difference to the world.

I have also recently written a new children's book in which a young princess's curiosity about a forest leads her to exploring the forest and making some unexpected friends. A spell cast will test Zaara's bravery-and with no loyal subjects to come to her rescue, she is on her own in the deep, dark forest. Come what may, Zaara has learned the true power of friendship and that if this circle of friendship is to be unbroken, she will lead the way as a princess-and as a friend.
Princess Zaara and the Enchanted Forest

Great Book!
Great story and keeps my son's attention throughout.Very adorable book about the adventures of a snail and a whale.

Great message!
No matter how small you are, you can still make a difference! What a great message for small children!

Very Cute
I love this story and so do my sons (6 and 2 years old).It has great illustrations and a great story about a tiny snail wanting to see the world and a whale giving him a ride.And as always Amazon got it to me quickly and with free shipping! ... Read more

Product Description

What do your people at work and your spouse and kids at home have in common with a five-ton killer whale? Probably a whole lot more than you think, according to top business consultant and mega-bestselling author Ken Blanchard and his coauthors from SeaWorld. In this moving and inspirational new book, Blanchard explains that both whales and people perform better when you accentuate the positive. He shows how using the techniques of animal trainers -- specifically those responsible for the killer whales of SeaWorld -- can supercharge your effectiveness at work and at home.

When gruff business manager and family man Wes Kingsley visited SeaWorld, he marveled at the ability of the trainers to get these huge killer whales, among the most feared predators in the ocean, to perform amazing acrobatic leaps and dives. Later, talking to the chief trainer, he learned their techniques of building trust, accentuating the positive, and redirecting negative behavior -- all of which make these extraordinary performances possible. Kingsley took a hard look at his own often accusatory management style and recognized how some of his shortcomings as a manager, spouse, and father actually diminish trust and damage relationships. He began to see the difference between "GOTcha" (catching people doing things wrong) and "Whale Done!" (catching people doing things right).

In Whale Done!, Ken Blanchard shows how to make accentuating the positive and redirecting the negative the best tools to increase productivity, instead of creating situations that demoralize people. These techniques are remarkably easy to master and can be applied equally well at home, allowing readers to become better parents and more committed spouses in their happier and more successful personal lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (71)

Book was in great shape
Everything was as described....the book was in great shape and showed up in a timely manner.

Awesome book!
Great lessons!Many of which I've been using for years but glad to hear what else I could be doing too!I love those whales!

Whaley Good!
Another good and easy to read book by Ken Blanchard!I read it in one day and could have read it in one sitting.A trainer at work gave me the book to read and it was well worth it.No new information in this book, but the way Blanchard tells his stories always makes it seem like it is new and it really sticks because of the great story.Great idea of using Sea World as the back drop to tell the story about giving positive feedback. This book was a great reminder and refresher for me.Recently, I have been doing a lot of "Gotchas" with my employees and now I'm going to start telling them "WHALE DONE!".Thanks, Ken!

Growing Great Employees
If you want a dedicated workforce you have to grow them.This book teaches you how to nurture managers so that they can train, promote, inspire and motivate employees to do great things on the job.It is an easy read that can be completed in one day.The techniques are easy to apply.

Excellent Book
great positive book on how to build and encourage great relationships.A must read for everyone. ... Read more

Product Description

When a lobsterman discovers a sunken ship, Cranberry Island is abuzz with excitement. Is the wreck the remains of the Myra Barton, the missing ship of island sea captain Jonah Selfridge? Or the elusive Black Marguerite, which belonged to one of the most notorious pirates of the 17th century and vanished without a trace—except for the ghost ship that old-timers say roams the water on fog-shrouded nights?

Soon the island is swarming with marine archaeologists and treasure hunters. It’s good news for Natalie—and for the Gray Whale Inn—until a body turns up floating near the wreck. Natalie finds herself immersed in the world of pirates and sunken treasure, both past and present. Will she solve the mystery and find the killer in time? Or will Natalie be the next to join the lost ship’s crew, down in Davy Jones’ locker?

Customer Reviews (1)

One of the best cozies of 2010
It's been two years since the last installment of this mystery series was published and I have been anxiously awaiting this fourth one.I have checked on the author's website to find out when this would be available and was ecstatic when I found out another one was on its way.To immediately cut to the chase, it was well worth the wait.

The "Gray Whale Inn" mysteries are set on Cranberry Island, Maine and the focal point is the B&B on the island.With various guests arriving and departing and a host of interesting characters (though only 100 people actually life on the island), all the ingredients for an interesting and fun mystery are there.This installment finds Natalie with few guests at the inn until a ship wreck is discovered in the waters surrounding the island.Two different, competing teams of marine archeologists arrive to try to claim the wreck and to determine exactly which ship they have found since there appear to be two possibilities.When a dead body is discovered and a local man is arrested for the murder, Natalie is in the thick of things in trying to clear his name as well as handling the tensions of the two competitive archeological teams.

This has to be one of the best cozies of the year.The book is well-written with a nice range of characters and a wonderful setting.One of the strengths of the narrative is the setting of Maine itself and the author does a masterful job of utilizing the setting without it over power the mystery.To further strengthen this effort, the story actually has believability which is often lacking in this genre.

For anyone who enjoys and island setting, the state of Maine, B&Bs, and an interesting mystery, you can't go wrong here. I hope I don't have to wait two more years for the next book, but am glad at quality is more important the quantity in this series.

Wonderful!
... Read more

Product Description

From his childhood fascination with the gigantic Natural History Museum model of a blue whale to his adult encounters with the living animals in the Atlantic Ocean, the acclaimed writer Philip Hoare has been obsessed with whales. Journeying through human and natural history, The Whale is the result of his voyage of discovery into the heart of this obsession and the book that inspired it: Herman Melville's Moby-Dick.

Customer Reviews (15)

Wordy, but fun and educational
The Whale is a fascinating account of the history of whaling and the behavior and physiology of whales.If you have even a mild interest in whales, conservation, nature, the ocean, the novel Moby Dick, or history this book will likely interest you.I knew nearly nothing about whales or whaling before reading this book, so I cannot speak to the justice that this book truly does the subject.But, it's great fun to read and educational.This book has certainly attracted my interst to learning more about whales.The only major drawback is the author's writing style is sometimes diffuse and overtly wordy.Be prepared to consult your dictionary frequently.

Disappointing and Lame Book
I bought this book because it received great reviews from multiple sources right after it came out. I started reading it last week, after months of waiting to find time, and I was really disappointed by almost everything in the book (even the pictures). The "In Search of the Giants of the Sea" led me to think that I would be reading a completely different book. I thought that I would be learning about the natural history of the whale through its evolution, its role or presence in different cultures around the world, how these cultures used the whales they caught, why people are fascinated by them, and the whaling industry. The only "searching" the author did for whales was to randomly describe various parts of the American and British whaling industry through its bloody and destructive history. The chapters felt disjointed from one another which created a loosely constructed weak narrative.

There were so many things that Hoare could have covered instead of the repetitive chapters on whale massacres. Whales are important beings to many cultures around the world and it would have been a much more interesting read if he had devoted a few chapters to addressing some of the prominent ones. I would NOT recommend this book.

Tedious and Rambling
Not a good read.Should be called "Random Observations from the Author about Whaling."The bulk of the book deals with whaling not whales themselves and the author spends an undue amount of time discussing Melville's work (and speculating as to his sexuality).It also seems to be a disjointed discussion -- almost a bunch of random notes taken by the author loosely connected through the subject of whaling.If that is what you are looking to read then great.If, like me, you were looking for a discussion on whales (or even a coherent discussion of whaling) then pass.I don't see what all the praise is about.I found this book tedious and rambling.

Yes Title Deceptive - But Excellent Read !
The title should have been "Whaling" as that is what is covered.Nevertheless the book itself is wonderfully readable - fascinating in approach and well executed. A good basic overview of whaling and somewhat whales themselves.I liked the tie in to Moby Dick and also the personal narrative that flows within.

An excellent book - but be careful - it's not what it seems to be.

Whales... giants of the sea
There is a reason this book won the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non Fiction... it is an exceptionally good read while being highly educational!

"The Whale" is NOT a scientific treatise on whales yet there are enough facts and details about whales to satisfy just about any level of whale enthusiast and the many illustrations are just an added bonus.

Philip Hoare deeply admires and respects whales and perhaps is even obsessed with them. It is this passion for his subject that gives the book its "hook" as it literally grabs you and pulls you along for the ride.


Hoare tries very hard to seperate fact from fiction as it pertains to our knowledge of whales. He uses Herman Melville's classic "Moby Dick" as a stepping stone to do this. By referencing passages from the book as well as other historical journals and events that Melville might have used to source his story Hoare provides a dramatic history of the whale, the whaling industry and the tenuous relationship that whales and men have had over the past 400+ years! This provides some of the best and most riveting writing in the book. "You are there" as a sailor yells "there she blows" and the crew goes into action to chase and catch the whale.

But throughout Hoare provides specific and fascinating details about each species of whale that he introduces: from Narwhals, Belugas, Bowheads to the grandaddy of them all... the Sperm whale! Hoare tells of why whales were so in demand during the 18th and 19th century and why men would travel to the four corners of the earth risking death to catch them and bring home the spoils while he also tells of the naturalists and the scientists who made it their life's work to go on expeditions to study whales and their world.

Hoare takes us into the 20th century and the almost indiscriminate slaughter of whales to again satisfy the need for their by products... one of which was as a base ingredient for the manufacture of nitro glycerine during the world wars!

For a man who as a child feared the sea and would not step anywhere near the waters edge... Philip Hoare has become a champion of Whales and our understanding of them. This book is a tremendous tribute to that giant of the- THE WHALE!






... Read more

Product Description
This book was just awarded the 2009 Merit Award for excellence in book design, book production and book manufacturing. This award was presented to Brookes Publishing by the 23rd Annual New York Book Show, sponsored by the Bookbinders' Guild in New York.
When learners with autism have deep, consuming fascinations trains, triangles, basketballs, whales teachers often wonder what to do. This concise, highly practical guidebook gives educators across grade levels a powerful new way to think about students obsessions as positive teaching tools that calm, motivate, and improve learning.
Written by top autism experts and nationally renowned speakers Paula Kluth and Patrick Schwarz, this guide is brimming with easy tips and strategies for folding students' special interests, strengths, and areas of expertise into classroom lessons and routines. Teachers will discover how making the most of fascinations can help their students learn standards-based academic content, boost literacy learning and mathematics skills, develop social connections, expand communication skills minimize anxiety, and much more.
Packed from start to finish with unforgettable stories based on the authors' experience, firsthand perspectives from people with autism themselves, research-based recommendations that are easy to use right away, and sample forms teachers can adapt for use in their own classrooms. An enjoyable read with an eye-opening message, this short book will have a long-lasting impact on teachers' understanding of autism and on their students' social and academic success. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Just Give Him the Whale
Great ideas for educators to implement in their curriculum.The solutions in this book are not just for students with ASD but for keeping any student interested in the course materials.

A truly inspiring and positive book!
An amazing book!Paula Kluth reveals a collection of fascinating stories that provide insight into the truths about students with autism in our schools. This book is filled with useful information for tools and strategies we can use to support inclusion and facilitate a valuable learning experience for all students.As teachers we should always strive to motivate and engage our students as individual learners.I would recommend this book to any teacher who aims to appreciate the interests and passions of his or her students and use those fascinations in the implementation of valuable lessons.
A truly inspiring and positive book.

Motivation
At its core, Autism isn't a deficit of intellect or capacity - its a deficit or misalignment of motivation and engagement.

If you can motivate; if you can keep the child engaged - then the possibilities are enormous.

Motivation and engagement aren't simple to achieve, though. And "giving the child the whale" won't work as a party trick. Children with autism have a keen sense of sincerity and authenticity.

This book is great and a wonderful resource for parents, teachers, supports and friends and family of a child with ASD.

My only word of caution is that, as with all things, balance is really important. Sometimes "giving the child the whale" will contribute to engagement. But sometimes, the attachment of the child's attention to the "whale" is so great, that the child will then find it difficult to engage with anything or anyone other than the "whale" itself.

Butthat's ok. Because the suggestions in this book aren't party tricks. They aren't cute little tips that will automatically transform a child struggling with a loud and confusing classroom or other environment into a model student.The suggestions are gateways. They're about motivating the adult to think about things differently, to work a little harder (with less judgment) to find the keys to motivation and engagement.

A MUST read...
It's hard to decide what I love most about this book. Throughout the book Kluth and Schwartz combine three essential elements for working with All children:Respecting difference, challenging assumptions, and empowering learners.From the cover to the last page they get the reader thinking about the biases that influence how we view children(they're fascinations, not obssessions!) and they offer hands-on, realistic strategies for bringing out the best in all students.They tell stories from teachers and students who have found success in creative ways. It's inspiring and positive throughout. I bought a copy for myself, then ordered several more to share.

Tons of great ideas
Great book-- filled with dozens of examples and has ideas on using fascinations to calm, comfort, inspire, teach literacy and math, and support social skills & communication efforts. Lots of good stories too and applications for elementary and secondary classrooms. My friend recommended it to me & now I am recommending it to both parents and teachers. ... Read more

Product Description
Using the ancient Inuit whale hunt as a metaphor for big sales, Whale Hunting gives you a clear nine-phase model for successfully finding, landing, and harvesting whale-sized sales accounts—the kind of sales that transform your business. Here, you’ll learn how to turn the dangerous endeavor of selling to large companies and big contracts into a strategy for continued success and growth. Stop wasting time with little accounts and start landing monster accounts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Disciplined process to produce bigger sales to bigger customers
Written by abusiness woman and educator, this book clearly describes the process to make change your company's attitude and approach to selling.Filled with methodology, tools and case studies, this book presents a "how to" disciplined process that can transform your company to find, sell, and deliver bigger sales to bigger customers.If you are falling short, perhaps it is time to try this proven process that's different than what you've been doing.

Waste of Time?
Just another one of those many books claiming to have the secret to growing your business by using an analogy. This one is whales! There's only one way to get new business; there's only one way to get new sales. How? Just do it. Quit reading all of those "how to books" and just go do it.

Excellent book for sales team
Whale Hunting is a must read for all professionals that are looking to be successful. The book is very simple in nature & you will find helpful. I bought six hardcover from amazon at a very discounted price.

Compass for answering an RFP
I read this book first from cover to cover and enjoyed the analogy.

It was not until our company really had to answer an RFP that this book showed its true merit.We used this book and Searcy's new book, RFPs Suck, almost exclusively to create a winning proposal.We not only beat out an incumbent but won the job without being the lowest price by showing how we would save the requesting company time and money.

As a small business, I always thought that our unique selling proposition was our nimbleness, our creativity, and our innovation.While these characteristics continue to be important to us internally and to other smaller clients, we learned through Whale Hunting that this is not what lands big companies.

I read the book, I used the teachings of the book, and we got the whale that we had never landed.Five stars obviously.

A Realistic Paradigm Shift
This is not just a book, it is a paradigm shifting opportunity for any organization. While the Whale Hunting analogy may be difficult for some to adopt, the concept is real and tangible. The basis for this philosophy is that the organization creates a culture that is prepared to nurture and sustain relationships with the right client.The actual capture of the client, while it may take a while and tire out the orgainization, is the culmination of all of the preparation.The entire organization supports the process, which inherently will break down silos, build team, and encourage process instead of magic.

Our organization took this concept to the next level, and invited Barbara in to assist us with developing the next tangible steps.Her energy and enthusiasm about building a strong culture that is ripe for "the whale", as well as her support for bringing this strong methodology and making it appropriate for our industry, was very appreciated.We have only begun to embark on this journey, and are anticipating a successful outcome! ... Read more

Product Description
You slip over the side of your boat, descending deep into the dark realm of the Earth’s largest creature. Then the whale starts to sing, just feet away from you. Photographer Flip Nicklin brings you face to face with whales as they communicate, nurse their young, and surface dramatically for air. Learn of the different kinds of whales, discover how we can aid their recovery from years of overhunting, and how we can protect their environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

If you can't go on a whale watch, this book is the next best thing!
Flip Nicklin's love affair with whales probably began when he was a boy, but he didn't realize then that they would be a part of his life's work when he grew up.His wife Linda is also a whale lover and that makes it doubly nice.He was hooked one day in 1979 when he was submerged in the water and surrounded by the song of the humpback whale.He said "the whale's song was so loud that [his] whole body was vibrating."I'm sure a lot of that vibrating was from sheer excitement!

Jim and Linda talk to us about many different kinds of whales, their habits and habitats, what they eat, their sizes, their migratory patterns and several other fascinating informative tidbits.For example they tell us that the blue whale, "the biggest animal that ever lived on Earth," can weigh as much as thirty elephants.Did you know that in some whale species they even have a "nursery group?"Now that is quite something. Did you know that some whales have teeth?

This little book is a whale watching, learning adventure.The Nicklin's overview of whales is concise and the photography is stunning.One of the first photographs is an amazing closeup shot of the eye of a humpback.In the back of the book is supplementary material about saving whales, planning a whale watch, a brief fact sheet, a glossary and additional resources. ... Read more

Product Description

A varsity letter jacket: it's exclusive, nearly unattainable, revered . . . and everything that's screwed up about Cutter High, as far as T. J. Jones is concerned. That's why T. J. is determined to have the Cutter All Night Mermen—the unlikeliest swim team a high school has ever seen—earn letter jackets of their own.

Chris Crutcher, therapist and author of seven prize-winning young adult books, here gives his many fans another wise and compassionate story full of the intensity of athletic competition and hair-raising incidents of child abuse. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell ... Read more

Customer Reviews (83)

Well worth a read
I picked this up because i am a swimmer and a fictional swim team of misfits was just too hard to pass up. Whale Talk far exceeded my expectations. It is much more than a sports novel. Rather it is a heartwrenching, gut-busting commentary on life.

Banned, challenged, a little bit brilliant.
Shortest review: Read this book. It's pretty amazing. Short review: If you're a teen or the parent of one, if you enjoy underdog or sports stories, if you've been through high school, or if you've ever experienced bigotry, read this book. It's pretty amazing. Longer Review: Yes, Crutcher packs a lot of issues into this book (racism, abandonment, child abuse, physical limitations are only a few), but each one is handled with sensitivity and humor. A rare combination, even rarer when done successfully. There's drama and comedy and suspense and action and emotion. The protagonist is flawed but incredibly sympathetic and appealing; secondary characters are finely drawn. We might never meet a T.J., but this creation of Crutcher's is a pretty amazing read.

Chris Crutcher does it again
I always start out Chris Crutcher novels thinking I'm going to be disappointed.Although I found TJ to be an interesting character, a novel about a kid trying to form a swim team out of a group of outcasts didn't really interest me.However, I think if you stop reading, like I almost did, you miss out on a work of beauty.Crutcher's novel takes TJ on a transcendant ride of great tragedy, but also a much more fulfilling life than he had in the past.Throughout Crutcher examines how we can learn from life's hardships and don't have to remain victims of our past.I'm a high school teacher who reads y.a. novels so I can recommend books to students. This is one I continually sell to those looking for a good book.

Whale Talk -- An Amazing Read
Chris Crutcher outdoes himself with Whale Talk.This is an amazing book that not only touches on the drama of high school sports but also give an enlightening look at adoption an foster care.This is not just another "teen sports book";It features many unexpected surprises, both happy and sad, that keep the reader in suspense.There is some explicit material, but I would recommend it to any reader ages fourteen and up.It is worth it.

An incredible YA book
This was the first time I read anything by Chris Crutcher and I am very glad to have followed a friend's recommendation to check this author out. His book, "Whale Talk", has the reader instantly connect and admire the narrator, The Tao (TJ) Jones, with his passion for doing the right thing, his directness, and mostly his sense of humor. The book weaves in tragic events with good dialogue and small moments of joy. But even more enjoyable are the scenes with misfit swim team and how slowly they build enough trust to confess the truth about their lives. Not every character gets the same amount of depth, but Crutcher masterfully handles enough details to make you feel like they are real teenagers with problems that anyone could have without being too obvious. It was also refreshing to see a YA book create well adjusted parents who are not totally clueless or cruel. TJ's adopted parents are ex hippies but they also help provide him guidance against the small-minded and the cruel that inhabit their town. I plan to be pressing this book into many other hands with the reassurance that it is one of the best. ... Read more

Product Description
Whale Hunt in the Desert divulges the unbridled lengths to which casinos go to bag the world s biggest gamblers--the whales. This definitive exposé reveals the shrouded world of ultra-high rollers and the Faustian pacts they forge with their hosts, the casino representatives whose job it is to part them from their fortunes. Private jets, penthouses, personal chefs, show-up money, rebates on losses, and the most beautiful women on Earth--nothing is too excessive. Whale Hunt in the Desert is the only book ever to examine the lifestyles and motivations of this rarest of breeds, as well as the highly guarded inner workings of the most money-oriented culture known to man. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wondered what it was like to be a high roller?
This is my review from the original hardback edition (Amazon didn't map them over to this paperback edition):

If you want to read about Las Vegas's highest of high rollers, "whales," and what a casino will do to keep them happy, then this book won't fail to satisfy. Along the way you'll meet Steve Cyr, a young Turk casino host. A host is the casino's employee whose job it is to look after the big players and to keep them happy and, more importantly, keep them coming back and gambling more and more.

Much of the book is built around Cyr and his style (his style can be both inspiring and annoying). Cyr is about 70% time-share/condo salesperson and 35% cruise director and 10% Kato Kaelin (yeah, he's 115%). But the book is more than Cyr and his successful effort to modernize the way casinos market to high rollers. You'll meet some of the whales themselves. You'll find out about the mini-palaces casinos have built just for them. And one subject usually kept off the record is covered: do casinos provide sex to their top players?

The book is not a superficial People Magazine of famous celebs who frequent Vegas. It's about both sides of the table, the whales and the casinos and hosts who harpoon them. The dark side of gambling is offered up as gamblers spin downward out of control, losing millions. There are plenty of details and that's what really distinguishes this book. Other books have touched on the fantasy of the high roller's life. Such as Lifestyles of a High Roller, Anderson's Burning the Tables, Rubin's Comp City and a couple specials on the Travel Channel, but nothing has offered up the depth or detail of Whale Hunt.

The only thing missing from the book is more.

Whale Hunt
This book is a must for anyone interested in casino life.It revolves around a Las Vegas 'super host' , Steve Cyr, and his day to day duties, and a bit of history.It also has generic info that does not directly deal with Cyr.I found this a very interesting and entertaining book. ... Read more

Product Description

Sometimes finding your own voice
is a matter of listening to the heart....

Jodi Picoult's powerful novel portrays an emotionally charged marriage that changes course in one explosive moment....For years, Jane Jones has lived in the shadow of her husband, renowned San Diego oceanographer Oliver Jones. But during an escalating argument, Jane turns on him with an alarming volatility. In anger and fear, Jane leaves with their teenage daughter, Rebecca, for a cross-country odyssey charted by letters from her brother Joley, guiding them to his Massachusetts apple farm, where surprising self-discoveries await. Now Oliver, an expert at tracking humpback whales across vast oceans, will search for his wife across a continent -- and find a new way to see the world, his family, and himself: through her eyes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (66)

Jumped around too much
It was difficult for me to get into this book and the back and forth between the characters was repetitive and sometimes confusing. I especially hated how Hadley was gotten rid of. I usually enjoy her books, but this one left me cold.

Songs of the Humpback Whale: A Novel in Five Voices
For years, Jane Jones has lived in the shadow of her husband, renowned San Diego oceanographer Oliver Jones. But during an escalating argument, Janes turns to him with an alarming volatility. In anger and fear, Jane leaves with her teenage daughter, Rebecca, for a cross-country odyssey. Charted by letters from her borther Joley, they are guided to his Massachusetts apple farm, where surprising self-discoveries await. Now Oliver, an expert at tracking humpback whales across vast oceans, will search for his wife across a continent, and find a new way to see the world, his family, and himself: through her eyes. The story is told in five different voices which at the start i found a bit difficult to understand as this is a very unusual way of writing, especially with Rebecca telling the story backwards: ) but once you get into the novel it becomes more clear. A very good read and i will read more of Picoults books.

not her best but still worth reading
i thoroughly enjoy all of picoults work however this novel seemed confuzing. The mention of Sam and Hadley early on throws the reader off and her limted knowledge of San Diego can make the book further less interesting. Although this book is certainly not Picoults best work it still is worth reading but needs some serious concentration.

Good, but not her best!
I have read several of Picoult's novels. I realize this was her first one and I can say that she has gotten better through the years. It was a great book, however I was a little frustrated with writing style. I usually have no trouble following flashbacks but this was throughout the book and pretty irritating. The ending was also disappointing!

Songs of the Humpback Whale
This book was written in 1992 and was reissued after the author had other successful books.I found the book to be confusing, trite, thin story line, and mostly predictable.I can see why the book didn't sell well when it was first written.The story is about a man whose whole life is the study of humpback whales while ignoring his wife and daughter.His wife and daughter leave him and drive across the country to stay with a brother.The story relates the sad childhood of the wife and her brother.While away the wife falls in love with an apple farmer, the daughter falls in love with the farmer's helper, and the husband finds them with the brother.Daughter's boyfriend falls and dies and a sad ending for all.Not recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

A tender story of courage and familial love
A charming story about a little girl who tries to win her great grandfather's love.

Kahu's birth is a source of disappointment to Koro Apirana, as he has been hoping for a male heir to succeed as chief of the Marori in Whangara, New Zealand.Kahu is Koro's eldest granddaughter, Porourangi's first child.

Refusing to accept that she is "of no use to him", as Koro cruelly tells her, Kahu seeks out Koro even more.Thankfully, Koro's wife, Nanny Flowers, is a doting great grandmother who chastises her husband for his stubbornness and makes up for the lack of affection.The story is told from Kahu's young uncle's perspective.

At the heart of the story is the mythological ancestry of Kahu's tribe and its connections to the great whale.Kahu unveils her gift for communicating with the whales, which becomes instrumental in establishing her bond with her tribe and ultimately, Koro, when an arguably supernatural event occurs.

Simply written, it would appeal to young readers.

Just what I ordered!
I ordered the book, hoping I would get what I ordered.I did.It is a gently used book that looks virtually new.It will be great for me to use for my college class, and it was very reasonably priced.

Wonderfully uplifting for girls!
I love how this books shows the transformation of an old fashioned grandfather to one that is loving and supportive and willing to learn from his granddaughter.After you read the book you need to watch the movie - beautiful images and great visual interpretation of the story!

Can't
give a review on something I havn't read, whoever made an idea like that, I give a review after I've read the book.

brilliant, beautiful, powerful folk tale of girl power
I love this movie, so I decided to read the book. As with any book on which a brilliant and well-executed film is based, it's a challenge for the reader to fall in love with the original story. The film was very faithful, and so it wasn't difficult to love this novel as well. But there are some deficiencies. First of all, the characters seem more real and dimensional in the film than the book. This is especially true of the heroine, who seems a mystical and distant child in the book, but comes off more real through Keisha Castle-Hughes' portrayal. Second, the film is much more realistic, only slightly testing the boundaries of reality and disbelief. The book is much more fantastic, though it contains more insight into the tribe's culture. And yet, the book is utterly powerful, honestly moving, and incredibly beautiful. It's a brilliant modern folk tale of a Maori tribe threatened by the modern world to hold onto its traditions. The chief (Koro) rejects his great-granddaughter Kahu who has broken the male line of succession. Koro tries desperately to maintain his tribe, reinforce the old traditions, and keep their connection with their totem animal, the whale on which their ancestor traveled to their lands. Meanwhile, Kahu desperately seeks her great-grandfather's love, not to mention acceptance. It slowly becomes obvious that Kahu--despite her gender and great-grandfather's rejection--is deeply connected to the whales and the sea (which is actually a taboo for a female to engage in), and is the salvation of her tribe. Obviously, fate and destiny care not for gender and traditions, as this girl is apparently destined for great things. It's an incredible story of family, destiny, strength, girl power, expectations, traditions, and culture. Grade: A
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Product Description
In this delicious follow-up to Murder onthe Rocks, developers have returned toCranberry Island. This time, they're planningto wipe out a natural cranberry bog,along with the island's namesake berries,to build a luxury subdivision. NatalieBarnes isn't sweet on the idea of commercialinterests souring their cozy oasis,but the single innkeeper has other problemson her plate: a withering relationshipwith her best friend Charlene, the suddenappearance of her ex-fiancé with a temptingproposal, and eerie bumps in the nightsuggesting the Gray Whale Inn is haunted.Worst of all, there's a killer on the loose,picking off people like ripe fruit.

When Charlene's lover–the handsomechaplain with a stake in the development–is stabbed to death, Natalie promisesto find the murderer for her griefstrickenfriend, who's also the number-onesuspect. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Dead and Berried
Have been looking for this book and should have known that Amazon would have it, am so pleased with it.Arrived in Perfect condition. As always thank you much Amazon.

Great book.
This book is a pleasant way to spend an evening. The main characters are likable, the plot keeps you entertained. Oh, and the recipes are an added bonus!

Review of "Dead and Berried"
This is the second book in the Gray Whale Inn mystery series featuring female-sleuth Natalie Barnes.Natalie is dealing with two murders, a cranky cop, an inquisitive guest and rumors that her inn is haunted.Plus we learn more about her past in Austin TX as her ex-fiance shows up unexpectedly.

I like the way the author describes Cranberry Island, Maine - she makes me feel like I am there!Plus I liked the fact that we learn a little more about Natalie's past in this book.She's an interesting person and I'd like to know more about her.

I'll be reading the next book in this series, for sure.

Really enjoying this series
So far, it's only 2 books in the series, but I have really enjoyed reading both of them.I love how the author has worked in all the characters and hope for more development among them in future books. I look forward to the next Gray Whale Inn book.

Not as good as the first
I enjoyed the first book in this series (Murder on the Rocks) very much. This second offering does a great job of giving more background on the Cranberry Island residents and Natalie herself but the mystery itself falls flat. While the author throws around a lot of suspicion, the outcome itself seems quite random.

Its hard to say more without giving too much away (I hate reviews that do that) so I'll finish by saying I would recommend this if you really liked the first one and that I would read a third one if the author chooses to keep the series going. ... Read more

Product Description
Onboard a vessel that would make Jacques Cousteau green with envy, the Cat and Co. take to the high seas in search of whales, dolphins, and porpoises—those aquatic mammals known as cetaceans. While learning how cetaceans stay warm without hair, have teeth or baleen, swim in troops, spyhop, spin, breach, and see via ecolocation, kids are introduced to almost 20 different species—including sperm, right, humpback, and blue whales; Gulf, spectacled, and finless porpoise; and boto, common, hourglass, and bottlenose dolphins. A shipshape selection for summer reading!

“The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library shows young readers that books can be entertaining and educational at the same time. This is a wonderful series!” —Barbara Kiefer, Ph.D., Charlotte S. Huck Professor of Children’s Literature, Ohio State University ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Wonderful Tale
This is a wonderful introduction to Whales, Porpoises, and Dolphins for children.Is is filled with scientific facts that are fun to learn because of the delightful rhyme.My four-year-old daughter loves the book and likes to have it read to her often.Even better, it has sparked an interest in these animals which has led to trips to museums, the library, and an aquarium for more study.

Nothing fishy about this tale
My granddaughter and I enjoy this book immensely.It's a fun way to get info about a big subject.

great reading!
I bought this book for my almost 3 yr old son who we ready this book to almost every night and he loves it. He has almost all the pages memorized. ... Read more

Product Description
Lilly listens to her grandmother's tales of whales and longs to hear the creatures' powerful songs for herself. This eloquent work celebrates the extraordinary relationship between a young girl and the whales that do eventually sing for her. Full color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

wonderful book
This is a great children's book for any little girl or boy interested in whales.It has a cute simple story - the reading level is probably 1st or 2nd grade, but can be happily read to 3 yrs and up.Really beautiful illustrations

A beautiful story about these majestic animals
This story is about the beauty of whales, yet it has aspects that refer back to the economic value that whaling had before the days of petroleum products and over killing. Lilly is a young girl who lives by the ocean and her grandmother is telling her the story of the whales. How peaceful they are and how she would watch them and occasionally even hear them singing to her. Lilly's great-uncle Frederick provides the counterpoint, calling the grandmother's stories about whales silly and pointing out how important they were for meat, bones and blubber to create whale oil for lamps.
Lilly is told that she needed to offer the whales something, so one day she throws a yellow flower into the ocean. After waiting, she gives up and goes home to bed. However, during the night the whales call to her and she goes to the seashore where she sees the whales and hears them saying her name.
Humans know very little about whales, their social structure or even their level of intelligence. Therefore, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that humans could learn a great deal from whales. While that is not the main premise of this book, it does point out that there is much to admire and respect about whales and the role they have in the ecosystem of the world.

Imaginative, Beautiful, Appealing
I love reading this story to children at the Seattle Aquarium, and inserting their names at the pivotal points as the whales call out.This is a vivid story with beautiful illustrations.The story appeals to all young children, and especially little girls, as they relate to the main character.Sheldon introduces some gentle reminders of caring for whales for more than their meat, and then poetically and imaginatively shows us what it means to be friends with the whale.This is a story filled with magical realism, and I highly recommend it for ages 3 through 7.

Beautiful
I bought this book over ten years ago while living in London as a student. Now, married with 3 children, it is a family favorite. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and the story is told in a magical tone. We love to whisper the words on the last page -it always captivates the kids. The part of the story that discusses the purposes of the whale long ago is a bit advanced for small children, but for the older ones it promoted conversation & learning. Buy this book in hardcover to ensure it lasts longer. A WONDERFUL MUST-HAVE for anyone with an imagination!!

Beautiful, loving story, exceptional paintings.
As a homeschooling parent I read this book with my children as we were doing a unit study on sound.

Whales have a the ability to make a much higher pitched sound than the human ear can hear. It is their song, or communicating which facinates us.

This book offers magnificent and realistic paintings which will delight your eyes as well as your heart.

The grandmother tells of the whales, is it real or fantasy? All the while a great uncle so blatently informs the little girl what whales were used for in the past.

As we know, whales have much larger brains then ours- who is to say they would not sing for a kind gesture from a loving stranger?

This book has found a special place in our home library, I hope it will for you or someone you love as well. ... Read more

Product Description

The long-awaited third book in Midnight Ink's bestselling series is finally here!

It's springtime on Cranberry Island — and love is in the air. It seems like every woman has the hots for buff trainer Dirk De Leon. He and his equally-gorgeous business partner, Vanessa Black, are leading a weight-loss retreat at the Gray Whale Inn — forcing innkeeper Natalie Barnes to lighten up her butter-laden breakfast menu.

The mood on the island darkens when two grisly discoveries are made. The first is a skeleton walled up at the island's lighthouse. The second is a corpse of the fresh variety — the handsome Dirk! Could the spirit that once embodied the skeletal remains — perhaps the lighthouse keeper who disappeared a century ago — be responsible for Dirk's death?

The police pin the blame on Natalie's boyfriend who — to her dismay — had a long-ago fling with Vanessa. To find the true killer and ease her own aching heart, Natalie must untangle the knot of jealous girlfriends and spurned admirers that once surrounded the hunky trainer.

Customer Reviews (11)

I love this series!
As one who has always wanted to pack up and move to Maine, I really love this series. It's interesting, engaging, and there is always a great twist to the plot. I can't wait for the next book!

Great series - needs new editor!
I have really enjoyed this series and am looking towards the fourth, but was honestly very shocked at how many editing errors are in the third book! Missing letters, random "/" by names, and so forth.It's distracting and this author deserves better!:)

Really fun series - great characters - I would love to visit the Gray Whale Inn!

GRAY MAINE #3
I'VE READ THE WHOLE SERIES AND FOUND THE CHARACTERS OK, THE SETTING BETTER, AND THE STORY LINE IS AN EASY READ. IF SOMEONE WANTS A GOOD VACATION READ THIS SERIES IS FOR YOU.
I'VE LENT THE TRILOGY OUT TO FRIENDS WHO LIKED THEM AND GAVE THEM A THUMB'S UP.

AN EXCELLENT, WELL WRITTEN COZY TAKING PLACE IN MAINE.
Murder most Maine, by Karen MacInerney was my introduction to this neat little series and I can assure you that by not reading the books in order takes nothing from the charm of this work.I have a weakness for the cozy mystery genre and read a lot of them.They are my mind cleaners to a certain extent and allow a bit reading relaxation not found in every book you pick up.This series, "A Gray Whale Inn Mystery" certainly fit the bill and certainly met all of my expectations.

The Gray Whale Inn, located on Cranberry Island off the coast of Maine is owned and operated by a displaced Texan, Natalie Barnes.The Island is inhabited by a very eclectic conglomeration of quirky local characters, all for the most part quite likeable.The author has a wonderful talent in being able to describe landscape, physical location, buildings, dress and local color.This adds so much to the story.You actually feel you are there.

In this story, Natalie is hosting a group of people who are on a retreat to loose weight.The sponsor of the trip, Vanessa who, it turn happens to be a past "summer girl," who also happens to have had a "summer thing" with Natalie's boy friend, John...not a comfortable thing being around your boy friend's old flame.Along with Vanessa is her partner in the weight loss business, Dirk who is quite a hunk as far as the ladies are concerned.It does not take long for the author to kick start her story as right at first, Dirk, the mysterious trainer and heart throb, is found dead on a jogging trail.There is no doubt it is murder!

Suspects abound in this work, from several members of the weight loss group to inhabitants of the island...including boy friend John!And by the way; did I mention that there is a further mystery involved, one that is around 150 years old due to the fact that a skeleton of a man is found in the hidden basement of the nearby lighthouse as it is being restored!Natalie, being the nosey little inn keeper she is, and insecure as to the status of her boyfriend John, is drawn right into the middle of all this drama.To top everything off, it is found that the hunk, Dirk, may have been poisoned and the police immediately shut down Natalie's kitchen and rumors abound and we start wondering if this will be the end of the Gray Whale Inn, whose financial foundations are apparently not all that stable to begin with.

They mysteries, and there are two of them running parallel throughout the work, are interesting enough to hold your interest.Recipes abound and the author has been nice enough to give them all in a supplement in the back of the book.Now these particular recipes happen to all be of the healthy weight loss kind which held little interest to me, but they did sound good and would most certainly be helpful for those interested in dieting.

The book has been well written by a natural story teller who happens to have a gift for writing.The writing style is precise and easy to follow without a lot of bothersome clutter, yet is detailed enough to pull you into the story and keep you there.While there is of course a bit of romance involved, it is rather low keyed and does not get in the way of the story line what so ever; in this case it is necessary.For those that are interested in a steamy story filled with gratuitous sex, then they need to look elsewhere.A few kisses and hugs are as about as wild as it gets.I find this rather refreshing.

For a nice mellow read, a satisfying read that goes much too quickly, this is an excellent choice to curl up with on a rainy Saturday and Sunday.I will most certainly be reading the rest of the books in this series; catching up so to speak and will be hoping the author is turning more of them out.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Love this series
This is one of my favorite cozy murder mystery series'. As you may know, cozies, like other genre, are quite variable in quality.This one is well written, with well developed characters and a good mystery.And I love the setting of a bed & breakfast on a small island in Maine.That in addition to the mouth watering cooking the author weaves seamlessly into the story (recipes at the end) make me want to be there.I've read the first 2 in the series, and I will certainly read the rest. ... Read more

Product Description
Take a trip back under the sea with Eye Wonder: Whales and Dolphins. Discover everything a young reader would want to know about the majestic animals of the deep-where they live, what they eat, how they breed, the ways in which they are threatened by environmental factors and humans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Perfect for early grade readers
I purchased this to donate toour local elementary school library.The youngsters who are not into reading narrative or "chapter books" like this type of reading material.We live near the Gulf of Mexico and this is a nice intro for kids into aquatic animal life.

wonderful whales
great book for kids..great way to learn about our planetstreasures
Nephew loved the book..price is good also

We love this book!!!
We just can't get enough of DK books!We love the pictures of the orcas, and dolphins!It also has a section on other marine mammals, including seals and otters!Very informative, and a great addition to our library!My son is 7, and autistic, and loves, loves, loves animals.This is simple enough for him to understand, and he devours every little bit of information he can!:)A best bet, you won't regret getting this book! ... Read more

Product Description

How big are whales? How do whales breathe? Do they live alone or in groups? Why are so many whales in danger? This exceptional book for beginning readers explores one of the most amazing animals in the sea.

Featuring breathtaking photographs from the Wildlife Conservation Society, Amazing Whales! is the latest title in a new I Can Read Book series about the fascinating animals that share our world and how we can help to keep them healthy and safe.

Ages 4+

Customer Reviews (2)

Yeah!
To quote my 5.5 yo - I love whales and I to love learn about whales, because it is science.

A Great Book for a Beginning Readers
I am a school librarian and I really loved this book.It helps to fill a nitch that is underserved - books for beginning readers that are interesting and well done.This book if chock full of facts about whales and they are presented in a very kid friendly way.An example, "Its tounge weighs as much as an elephant" is much better than the tounge weighs "X" pounds.The pictures are great as well.All in all, this book is a winner.We need more such books to fill that gap in children's literature.Kudos to the author.
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Product Description
A blue whale is big; its the biggest animal alive. But it isn't the biggest thing there is. In this informative and engaging book, readers discover some big things, some bigger things, and the thing beyond measure--what can truly be called the Biggest Thing There Is! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great for suggested age range
t is a slim little book, a nicely illustrated picture on each and every page, and an amount of text appropriate for a preschool attention span. It begins by showing the relative size of a blue whale to other common animals (elephant, lion). With that as a jump point, each page takes us progressively larger relative to the current topic, from whales, to mountains, to planets, to suns, stars, on and on until we reach the size of the galaxy. So a hard to grasp concept of a galaxy's size is broken down into bite-sized pieces. This is a perfect introduction to comparative sizes, concepts of millions and billions (great intro to that on the first page) and brief astronomy for a young child.

This is geared towards ages 4-8. Based on our experiences today, I would say that is pretty accurate. My younger, 5 now, and enjoyed it, getting a lot out of it but not grasping it 100%. The pictures were engaging, and the text was approachable for his understanding level. His attention stayed put through the book. My older son, 8 now, and enjoyed it as well, listening to me read it and then grabbing it for a second read on his own, completely grasping the content and staring in wonder. He has a much firmer grasp on just how unimaginatively big a galaxy is after this book. The astronomy of course was more of a review for him, but that is great too, as we are off to build on that for him later on with more in depth astronomy, while my younger son will stop here for now with just the intro...

Fantastic Teaching Tool!
We love this book!My 5 and 3 year old boys are just fascinated by the increasing size comparisons.I love books that open their minds to understanding the world (And universe!) we live in and this one does just that in an easy to follow, fun way!Totally recommend it!

Great teaching tool
I have used this book with several grade levels effectively.I originally purchased the book to give my third grade social studies class in an inner city New York school a concept of how high Mt. Everest is when they were studying China.They became so fascinated that we postponed the Himalaya lesson and ended up reading to the end of the book.They loved it!There are so many ways this book can be used with a classroom.It's a great way to involve children in the concept of estimating and they really get into guessing "how many" or trying to predict the very biggest thing there is.School age children enjoy the challenge of seeing how long it takes to count to 100 and then guessing how long it might take to reach a larger number.The children began asking "how long" to count to millions and billions if you counted 24 hours a day, creating a teachable moment when I helped them use math skills to discover the answer, which led to a discussion about setting up counting 'tag teams', if counting that long was feasible...the educational oportunities are endless, especially if you let the children's curiosity and creative thinking lead the lesson.All this was just from the first page of the book!I plan to purchase more books by this author in the hope they are equally thought-provoking.

Biggest There Is
This book is about a big blue whale and other things that's bigger than the big blue whale.This book use very big numbers of things to add up to compare them with one really big thing.This book tells about the universe and how big they think it is.our galaxy is the biggest yet.There are other galaxies that are probaly a million times bigger than ours. A blue whale is the biggest animal on earth but what is the biggest galaxy in space?

Great picture book for science and math integration
This is one of my favorite books. Every class I've ever used it with, from 1st grade up to 5th, has been fascinated. The illustrations are eye catching and perfectly correspond to the text. Literature should be intergrated across the curriculum. This book can help introduce lessons on big numbers and place value. It can also be used to tie into science lessons, with the size of the solar system or animal species. All elementary classrooms should have a copy of this book. It is both educational and interesting. ... Read more

Product Description
When Jerry and Mary Newport met, the connection was instant. A musical genius and a mathematical wonder, the two shared astronomic IQs, but they also shared something else -- they both were diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism that affects millions of Americans and makes social contact painfully unbearable. When Jerry and Mary married, they were catapulted into the limelight. They appeared on 60 Minutes and soon were known as "superstars in the world of autism," shining examples of two people who refused to give up in the face of their mutual challenge.

But just when it appeared that their lives would enjoy a fairy-tale ending, their marriage fell apart. The Hollywood feeding frenzy was too much to handle, and they divorced. After heartbreaking years of soul searching, Jerry and Mary remarried. Today, with their union stronger than ever, they have dedicated themselves to helping countless other people with Asperger's and autism lead lives of dignity. Mozart and the Whale is an unforgettable love story of the incredible chronicle of their journey together -- and apart.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

A wonderful book about a moving story
Having seen the film of the same name, I was intrigued to know more about Jerry and Mary's life (Donald and Isabelle in the film). This book did not disappoint. Since both Jerry and Mary have Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, their upbringing was fraught with all the difficulties this condition brings. However, Mary in particular seemed to have an extraordinary difficult time and it is evident as the book progresses that she was deeply scared as a result. It is incredible that she coped as well as she did. After meeting Jerry, the ups and downs of their relationship are portrayed with the searing honesty you would expect from Asperger people and their difficulties are sometimes amusing, sometimes sad, but always deeply moving.

Each chapter is divided into two with events told first by Jerry and then by Mary. This works extremely well and, despite the involvement of a ghostwriter, their voices are distinctive and feel entirely their own.

Having Asperger's Syndrome myself, I salute Jerry and Mary for what they have done in writing this book. They share something of our baffling but completely wonderful condition and prove that it doesn't have to be a conventional romance to make a brilliant love story.

Great insight into the minds of Aspies
My brother has Asperger Syndrome, so I love reading books by and about Aspies. I felt like this one gave a powerful view at how they think, and it was wonderfully matched with a lively, interesting story. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I heard it is great, and I will be ordering it soon.

Fascinating Asperger's Love Story
Sure thing, Jerry was so clumsy that he had found it quite hard to deal with women. However, I must say that applies to me somehow, which really embarrassed me quite a lot. I used to try in vain to ask out several girls when I was younger, but it didn't work. I still have no idea why I was so unpopular with women, but whatever reasons Jerry and I had, this kind of lonely life frustrated both Jerry and me. That's why I feel falling in love is quite a challenge to people with Asperger Syndrome(AS). Not all of them are clumsy about love, just in case.

I was quite amazed to find Jerry recognized his AS traits objectively as he saw the famous film, Rain Man. He shouted the answer to the very difficult math question Raymond was asked, which was quite embarrassing in the movie theater, though. Both Raymond and Jerry were autistic - I think this motivated him to find his AS. Both of them were very good at calculation by heart! Moreover, he came to join the organization of people with autism called AGUA(=Adult Gathering United Autism), where he met an AS woman Mary who he fell in love with and got married to! I guess that drastically changed their lives.

Not everything went well with each other; they divorced once and remarried. However, Jerry had mellowed a lot and quit shouting at Mary like he used to, which helped each other relax quite a lot. I'm sure they won't get divorced for the rest of their lives.

Mozart and the Whale
This is a wonderful autobiographical account of two individuals who suffered with Aspergers all their lives and did not know what was wrong with them. They are not diagnosed until later life. These stories take us from their childhood up to present, their marriage, divorce, and remarriage. I really enjoyed this book although it was depressing at times. I was taking a class in autism and this book helped me see how much suffering a individual with autism must go through on a daily basis.

Want to know what Aspergers Syndrome is like?
The best way to learn about Aspergers is from what AS people have for sharing!Jerry and Mary share their love story in a way unlike any romance novel you'll find to read.As soon as I began reading this book, I could not put it down until I finished it!It made me laugh, cry, think, and sigh.Never was I bored for even a moment!

What makes this story extra special is that even though Jerry and Mary Newport are both AS people, they provide AS perspectives from their own side.Mary is much more accepting of the unique traits AS gives her than Jerry is.Regardless of this difference between them, they both can understand, appreciate, and accept each other.This is more than what they get from most other people.

The book "Mozart and the Whale" is much better than the movie.The movie is entertaining but the book does a much better job of portraying what AS is like, along with it being more entertaining to read than the movie is to watch.

I was blessed with the opportunity to spend some time with both Jerry and Mary Newport in person after I read their book.They were exactly as I imagined them to be.That must mean their real personalities shine through in this story!

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Product Description
The perfect introductory guide to 96 species of whale, dolphin and porpoise that you are likely to spot on your whale-watching trip. More than 4.3 million people went on whale-watching excursions in 1998, and the number has been rising steadily since, signifying a growing global appreciation of these magnificent mammals and their environments. This pocket-sized guide is the ideal companion for whale-watching trips throughout the world, helping you to identify each species and discover more about them. It includes a detailed description and the ID Fact File provides at-a-glance information for each entry. Each species is illustrated with a stunning photograph, depicted as encountered on observation trips. It includes information on size, geographical distribution and diet. It also contains information on whether the species is under threat and protection. The entries are organised taxonomically, and each two-page spread is devoted to a different species. Packed with information and easy-to-use, "Wild Guide Whales and Dolphins" is the ideal guide for those wanting to learn more about these fascinating creatures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Good Guide to Whales
My wife and I are planning to go to Alaska and hope to do some whale watching.This book is a great guide to identification of the various whales we hope to see.It is not too wordy in descriptions but gives enough information for the identification of the various types of whales and other sea mammals.

Even an artist needs this type of book!
Fisrt of all, I believe this is the exact same book as "Whales, dolphins, and porpoises. It is great book. I'm a marine life artist, so I needed a book like this one to study the scientific anatomy of each animal in details in order to get them down the right way realistically on canvas. It's the best way I can think of to make the animals as real and as beautiful or magnificent as they truly are in reality. It's hard to find a book that has even photos of each and every whale, dolphin, or porpoise there is in the world. This one little field guide has them all. It's great. So many! I also can learn about them if I decide to go whale watching some day! This book tells just about everything about each animal. Anything you would want to know. If I do go whale watching I'lltake the book with me! Yes, believe it or not, even an artist needs this type of book!

Rehana(Chicago, IL.)

book
i bought this book for my grandson who wants to be a marine biologist.ithink this will be a good start to his study.

book review
overall the book is a great guide to identifying whales and dolphins.one thing about the book that i am not so happy about is the small text size.

Incredible
From the great illustrations and quick-reference title bar that includes taxonomic, habitat and population information, to the range maps and behavioral information, this book was such a steal. I received this book shortly before starting cetacean surveys in the south pacific and it was an incredible source of information. I have used many field guides and, although I never tested its 'water-proofness", it is simultaneously concise yet complete. It not only gives identification keys for individual species, but also keys to identifying individual animals. If you are a teacher, student, biologist or enthusiast, get it, wherever you are in the world.
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