The latest book in the dependable Strange and Wonderful series opens with "If you were a young dolphin," and page by page, the text and illustrations work together beautifully to help readers understand these animals better. After introducing several dolphin species and their physical features, the discussion turns to their porpoising, diving, and breaching activities, as well as their echolocation system, predatory tactics, life cycle, communications, playfulness, and unusual sleeping behavior (only one side of the brain sleeps at a time). The final pages comment on mass strandings of dolphins, threats from human pollution, fishing nets, and boat traffic, and the controversy surrounding dolphin shows. The back matter includes a glossary, index, and source bibliography as well as lists of recommended books and websites. Pringle even discusses the facial bone-and-muscle structure that people interpret as a dolphin's "smile," pointing out that it's present whether the dolphin's actions are friendly or hostile. Well attuned to points brought up in the text, Henderson's graceful watercolor-and-pencil illustrations offer close-up views of dolphins in action. A lively, informative introduction to dolphins.

Pringle's comprehensive treatment of dolphin species and behaviors provides in-depth yet understandable explanations of behaviors such as echolocation, dolphin communication, and the animals' social natures. The illustrations are tightly aligned with the text, portraying active scenes that feature the behaviors described, diagramming dolphin anatomy--inside and out--and presenting multiple species on a page to allow for comparisons. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.