Dolphins on the Sand
Kindergarten-Grade 3—A pod of dolphins swims joyfully toward the beach, leaping as it follows a school of fish, and then stopping to rest on the sandbar. The tide recedes, the dolphins are stranded, and volunteer rescuers work through the night keeping the animals wet and safe until they are able to return to sea. Arnosky focuses the story on a young dolphin swimming with its mother and a young boy who is part of the rescue group, drawing readers into the drama. The paintings are luminous, with daytime scenes in vivid colors and nighttime scenes dramatically lit with lanterns and flashlights. This is a simple and powerful nature anecdote that speculates why sea mammals beach. Children will be moved by the frightened animals and by the compassionate work of the rescuers (these situations in life don't often end as happily as this book does). Arnosky has once again produced an artistic and accessible science story.—Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System, FLCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.