Astro

September 1, 2010

Gr 3-4-Harvey tells a gentle tale of an orphaned Steller sea lion pup whose early imprinting on his human nurturers at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA, leaves him determinedly reluctant to live in the wild on any terms. Bersani's nearly photographic illustrations keep perfect time with the simple text, showing the pup returning to the center each time he is released. Adults will cheer at the "For Creative Minds" section, replete with activities, maps, further data, and advice on linking with a website for more curriculum-oriented exploration.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2010
Grades 1-3 While only a few days old, an orphaned Steller sea lion pup is rescued by Californias Marine Mammal Center staff, who name him Astro. After much nurturing and care, Astro is healthy enough to return to the ocean, but because of his bonding with humans, he persistently returns to land, preferring people and populated settings to sea life. Ultimately, Astro finds a permanent and happy residence at Connecticuts Mystic Aquarium. Harveys debut picture book is a fictionalized account of the real-life Astros experiences, and the lively text, printed in a large, easy-to-read type, is filled with intriguing specifics: baby Astro is fed a whipped-cream-and-herring smoothie, for example. The photorealistic, mixed-media illustrations have a flat feel, but the characters expressive faces bring some emotional depth. The extensive back matter includes Steller Sea Lion facts; a map-related activity; an anagram to remember events in a sea lions life cycle; and the similarities and differences between sea lions and seals. A touching, informative introduction to the species.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)