Robert Burleigh and Wendell Minor
Charlesbridge Publishing - 2015
Trapped: A Whale's Rescue, is based on a true event which occurred in the icy waters near San Francisco on December 11, 2005.
After a crabber's fishing net was left in the waters of the Pacific ocean, a humpback whale, swimming and feeding on krill became wrapped in the large nets. The ropes were cutting into her mouth and wrapped around her fins making it impossible for her to swim free and breathe normally.
Despite the fact that mammals such as these can be unpredictable when they feel threatened or frightened, a team of rescuers and divers worked tirelessly to free the frightened whale. More than 20 ropes were wrapped around the frightened whale. When all was said and done, no divers were injured and before the freed whale swam off, she circled the divers and gently nudged each one as if to show her appreciation.
I really enjoyed this story and felt it would make a great addition to school and public library collections. The painting-like illustrations seem to come alive on each page so that you can almost feel the leathery skin of the whale. The illustrations help to show just how scared the whale must have been when the nets restricted her ability to swim and even breathe.
In the back of the book there is lots of interesting information on the humpback whale --for example, the humpback has lungs the size of a small car; females weigh around 50 tons; life span 40-50 years and the heart weighs 400+pounds.
5/5 stars
(sent by illustrator)
Sounds like a story I would enjoy. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Kathy.
DeleteIt sounds like a wonderful story, very uplifting. Thanks for another great review Diane and have a lovely weekend :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise, hope your weekend is special as well.
DeleteI love stories like this! I just saw a video where some people in a boat rescued a small whale but cutting a net it was tangled in. After they were done, the whale seemed to thank them as well.
ReplyDeleteIt makes it all the sadder that these beautiful creatures face such danger all the time.
DeleteThat was an amazing rescur and sounds like a wonderful book.
ReplyDeleteIt was Brian and it makes you wonder about just how much danger there is out in the ocean to our wild and sea life.
ReplyDeleteIt is a real problem from everything I've read --very sad.
ReplyDeleteThis really does sound like a great story in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteThe whale nudging the divers after the rescue is both touching as well as amazing.