Infused with wonder, an account of a natural cycle that occurs, mostly, far below the ocean's surface.Moving "with grace and power, like a dancer," a blue whale "whirls above and below the currents of the Pacific Ocean" until she dies a natural death. (Brunelle explains that the wax buildup in the whale's ear reveals that she died at age 90.) Floating for a time and then sinking slowly to the bottom, her decomposing body will for a century or more feed and house millions of scavengers and those that prey on them, from sharks and seabirds to teeming species of worms, crabs, clams, and other deep-sea dwellers. Not only do entire ecosystems develop in overlapping phases on her flesh and then bones, but released nitrates and other nutrients flow back up toward the surface on spring currents to feed the krill that in turn nourish new generations of blue whales. Brunelle's prose is both lucid and poetic, while Caldecott-winning illustrator Chin depicts all of these changes in precise but lyrical ways, beginning with views of the living whale arcing majestically through sunlit waters; the artist goes on to show the body resting on the dark, mysterious seafloor as its bones are exposed and scattered by busy hordes of feeders both large and microscopic. The author fills in more details about blue whales and recaps the whole sequence of decomposition at the end, before closing with leads to both print and web resources on whales and whale falls.Grand and engrossing. (Informational picture book. 6-9)

Gr 2–4— Little is known about occurrences out in the open waters of the ocean, but this title tackles what happens when a whale dies. Brunelle opens by introducing a blue whale and helping readers understand its size and life span; things take a really compelling turn when the whale dies and the story of the decomposition of the body of the largest mammal on Earth begins. In meticulous detail, the narrative covers the eye-opening descent of the whale's body to the ocean bottom, and then how scavengers feast on it. Finally, Brunelle makes connections between the decomposition process and the food cycle that, when complete, will supply nutrients to the next generation of whales. Chin's iridescent and highly detailed images are the perfect counterpoint to the absorbing text. This book is ideal for young readers who love simple, clear facts about animals or for older readers who will find the decomposition process fascinating. Educators will also appreciate the clear organization and descriptive writing style. VERDICT An excellent addition to any elementary library collection.— Debbie Tanner

Infused with wonder, an account of a natural cycle that occurs, mostly, far below the ocean's surface.Moving "with grace and power, like a dancer," a blue whale "whirls above and below the currents of the Pacific Ocean" until she dies a natural death. (Brunelle explains that the wax buildup in the whale's ear reveals that she died at age 90.) Floating for a time and then sinking slowly to the bottom, her decomposing body will for a century or more feed and house millions of scavengers and those that prey on them, from sharks and seabirds to teeming species of worms, crabs, clams, and other deep-sea dwellers. Not only do entire ecosystems develop in overlapping phases on her flesh and then bones, but released nitrates and other nutrients flow back up toward the surface on spring currents to feed the krill that in turn nourish new generations of blue whales. Brunelle's prose is both lucid and poetic, while Caldecott-winning illustrator Chin depicts all of these changes in precise but lyrical ways, beginning with views of the living whale arcing majestically through sunlit waters; the artist goes on to show the body resting on the dark, mysterious seafloor as its bones are exposed and scattered by busy hordes of feeders both large and microscopic. The author fills in more details about blue whales and recaps the whole sequence of decomposition at the end, before closing with leads to both print and web resources on whales and whale falls.Grand and engrossing. (Informational picture book. 6-9)