FACE TO FACE WITH WHALES

This addition to National Geographic’s Face to Face with Animals series introduces whales. Opening with photographer Nicklin’s first research encounter nearly 30 years ago, the text goes on to describe physical characteristics, family lives and eating methods, and to touch on issues concerning their ocean environment and human encounters from hunting to whale-watching. Extensive photo captions add intriguing facts about specific species. The photographs are the main attraction here, beginning with the astonishingly close-up humpback face on the front cover and title page. Curiously, although the author makes the point that whale species can be identified by the shape of their flukes, captions for the two photos that show only flukes fail to indicate the species. As in other books in the series, the endmatter includes sections on How You Can Help (environmental protection and adopt-a-whale programs), It’s Your Turn (doing research) and Facts at a Glance, as well as a glossary, suggestions for further reading and web exploration, index and research and photo notes. Complements the authors’ Face to Face with Dolphins (2007). (Nonfiction. 7-10)