Surf War!: A Folktale from the Marshall Islands
Kindergarten-Grade 2—Sandpiper, who waits for the waves to deliver her meal of minnows, is confronted by angry Whale. He fancies himself the ruler of the sea and is furious with Sandpiper for invading his territory. After she points out that there are more sandpipers than whales, Whale insists that his kind outnumber the birds. He calls forth all of his brothers while Sandpiper shouts for her sisters. After no one can tell which side has more, Whale requests that his cousins come to the island: the dolphins, orcas, and porpoises. Sandpiper likewise calls, and flamingos, pelicans, egrets, and terns all appear. Still, no one can tell who has more. Whale commands his kind to eat up the land, while Sandpiper and the other birds drink up the sea. This turns out to be a losing proposition for both parties, who decide that they must all share their resources. The illustrations dominate the pages, with the birds and their backgrounds painted with bright shades of yellow, pink, and orange, while the sea and its creatures are deeper blues, grays, and purples. This charming story provides a moral about getting along with others and caring for the environment.—Donna Atmur, Los Angeles Public LibraryCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.