ALA Booklist (Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2006)

From the I Can Read series, this little book provides basic information about the physical characteristics and habits of dolphins in the wild, along with pictures from the Wildlife Conservation Society. While some of the color photos are a bit dark or fuzzy, others illustrate points made in the text clearly and effectively. Topics discussed include dolphin sounds, echolocation, care of the young, and threats to the species. Short, clear, and precise, the text is well suited to primary-grade students. A practical choice for children seeking an easy-to-read book on the subject.

Horn Book

Page after page, this book's photographs feature dolphins swimming in plain watery backgrounds--and they're all in similar poses, which quickly becomes dull. However, readers may appreciate the large, well-spaced typeface. Some specific facts about dolphins are included in the simple text, in particular their use of echolocation and their social habits.

Kirkus Reviews

Thomson offers another of her well-written nonfiction easy readers in the I Can Read series, this time exploring the perennially popular topic of dolphins. One of this volume's best features is the excellent full-color photographs of dolphins in their natural habitat, including underwater views and some amazing shots of dolphins leaping out of the water in play. The simple text gives a coherent and interesting introduction to the world of dolphins, written for children who are reading independently but who still need limited sentence length and a large typeface. Some of the topics covered are anatomy, communication, locations and endangerment. Although this volume is part of an easy reader series, it will also serve well as an informational source for reports or science studies. (Easy reader. 4-8)

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-Through just a few lines of text per page, beginning readers can learn about dolphins. While there is enough information here for elementary reports, the fuzziness of the full-color photos detracts from the book's appeal for general audiences. Thomson discusses echolocation and other types of communication; the structure and uses of the blowhole; geographic range; coloration; social interactions; young dolphins; dolphins as prey for sharks, killer whales, and people; and governmental protection programs. A supplemental purchase.-Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.