The World of Marine Mammals

Nikki Tate-Stratton writes novels for preteens; her latest books are
Jessa Be Nimble, Rebel Be Quick; Raven’s Revenge; and Tarragon Island.

The World of Marine Animals describes how various kinds of marine
mammals have adapted to life in the water. The first few pages introduce
the main groups of marine mammals, and the rest of the book looks at
various aspects of life in and under water. Topics include adaptations
for swimming, finding food and eating, diving, the senses under water,
social life, migration, and pollution. Adrienne Mason intersperses
profiles of scientists who study marine animals with factual content
about the various species. A number of hands-on activities are also
included, along with charts and diagrams to help clarify information
presented in the text. Pencil illustrations and black-and-white
photographs break up the text and add useful detail. The book includes a
glossary, an index, and a table of contents.

Though this production is not flashy (all illustrations are
black-and-white and the book is printed on an inexpensive paper), it
contains a wealth of information for middle-grade students. Using a
holistic approach, Mason (herself a marine biologist) covers a lot of
territory and provides an excellent overview of the ways in which marine
mammals survive in their watery environment. The text is clearly written
and well organized, with a good mixture of quick facts (in sidebars,
charts, and illustrations) and detailed description. The profiles of
various biologists provide an interesting glimpse into job opportunities
in marine biology as well as the ways in which we obtain information
about various wildlife species. Recommended.