01/22/2018
This third title in the My Great Bear Rainforest series features striking underwater photographs of seals, sea lions, and otters. A powerful storm has come to the Great Bear Sea, and the marine animals have retreated to their underwater sanctuary, where rocks protect them from larger predators. Filled with pink, red, yellow, and green seaweed, the seal garden is aptly named, and McAllister’s photos of seals peering above the waterline and sea lions lounging on rocks are equally compelling. Read builds a sense of the lurking dangers awaiting seals outside the garden—orcas “patrol the garden like police”—and concludes by evoking a sense of the broader ecosystem that the series explores: “It’s the way of life in the Great Bear Sea, where every animal, no matter how big or small, has a place to live and a role to play.” Ages 5–8. (Mar.)
The Seal Garden
Narrated by Christian Down
Nicholas ReadUnabridged — 5 minutes
The Seal Garden
Narrated by Christian Down
Nicholas ReadUnabridged — 5 minutes
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Overview
When storms roar and orcas are on the prowl, it's the seal gardens of the Great Bear Sea that provide safety and shelter.
Ian McAllister's glorious photographs reveal the beauty and mystery of this rarely seen place of refuge for sea lions, otters, a variety of seals and other sea mammals. This is the third title in the My Great Bear Rainforest series.
Editorial Reviews
"This book has really great pictures and will be interesting for readers to learn about a different part of the world, especially one under water…A worthwhile read for younger children."
"The stunning photography makes one feel as if they are there with the animals under and above the sea…This is an excellent choice for grades 2-4 doing projects on sea mammals. The photography is enough to interest any curious child in the story."
"The photographs of marine animals such as harbor seals, elephant seals, sea lions, otters, and fish are exquisite. Recommended."
"This information book reads like a story for young readers while also teaching about this beautiful environment. It will make a great addition to your nonfiction collection for early to middle graders."
The expert photography in these books is the perfect medium to tell the stories of survival in this unique wild place…The books in the 'My Great Bear Rainforest' series can effectively be shared with younger listeners who will find the photos captivating and whose curiosity will be aroused by the infrequently seen settings. Highly Recommended.
"As with Wolf Island and A Bear's Life the bold layout of beautiful wildlife photography combined with adroit text gives the reader a glimpse into a magical world that inspires a sense of wonder. The writing skillfully incorporates facts with a story that promotes understanding of nature. This book is highly recommended for school and public libraries. It would be an appropriate gift for any child. Children are curious about nature and love a good story. The Seal Garden provides for both."
"The concept of a seal garden will be new to most viewers, and the illustrations will intrigue children and adults alike. McAllister's handsome photos, particularly those taken underwater, offer some unusual and almost otherworldly effects of light and color. An intriguing addition to the My Great Bear Rainforest series, which includes Wolf Island and A Bear's Life."
02/01/2018
K-Gr 3—Set in the misty Great Bear Rainforest on Gribbell Island in British Colombia, this book explores an atmospheric and surprising habitat. Northern elephant seals, harbor seals, sea lions, and sea and river otters hardly spend all day basking on the rocky shores, as one might imagine. McAllister's up-close images reveal the lively show that is life in a seal garden. This refuge is part-playground, part—napping room that provides shelter from the crashing waves and protection from the animals' main predator, the orca (they are too large to maneuver in the garden). Tension mounts as three orcas prowl the edge of the seal garden. But young readers will breathe a sigh of relief when the orcas are forced to move on with empty bellies to the next feeding ground. Playful images of seals abound. Even the coral, kelp, and stones are shot with care and somehow, even in a place with such abundant rainfall, McAllister manages to capture the sun's rays cutting through the water. The text is well laid out on the page; the white boxes break up the blue/green hues of the underwater environment. McAllister and Read's love for the wildlife of the Great Bear Rainforest is evident in their respect for their subjects. VERDICT Recommended for nature lovers and those that need encouragement to dip their toes into nonfiction.—Kristy Kilfoyle, Canterbury School, Fort Myers, FL
2017-12-06
Seals and sea lions shelter in a protected area of the Great Bear Sea, safe from stormy weather and prowling orcas.McAllister, a photographer with more than 20 years of experience in the temperate rainforest along Canada's Pacific coast, again teams up with Canadian journalist Read. This third in their series for younger readers uses McAllister's photographs to illustrate a slim storyline about seals, sea lions, and other creatures who take cover from a storm in rocky areas larger animals can't penetrate. Striking images, both above and under the water, show wide-eyed seals and the larger sea lions (but not the sea otters also mentioned). Later, when the storm is over, a group of orcas appears, circling around the entrance. In the clear, sunlit water, they can see the smaller mammals, but they can't reach them. Kelp and other underwater vegetation provide a leafy backdrop to the scene. After the orcas move on, a final spread looks up at a group of seals on a barnacle-covered rock, once again comfortable in their world. Able readers who want to know more about this underwater world will enjoy The Great Bear Sea (2013), by the same team.An attractive addition to settings where Wolf Island (2017) and A Bear's Life (2017) have been popular. (Informational picture book. 5-8)
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940175010344 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Orca Book Publishers |
| Publication date: | 03/06/2018 |
| Series: | My Great Bear Rainforest , #3 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Age Range: | 8 - 11 Years |
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