ALA Booklist (Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 1994)

Written for the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science Stage 1 series, this book focuses on whales as mammals. In telling how whales are like other mammals and unlike fish, the text introduces a full range of information about whale anatomy, development, and behavior. Full-color paintings, mainly in watery greens and blues, show the animals in their habitat, along with a scene of a whale model in a museum and a map of migration. The book's strong point, though, is Esbensen's simple, informative text, which keeps its young audience clearly in view. Given the popularity of the subject, a good choice for most libraries serving young children. (Reviewed Feb. 15, 1994)

Horn Book

Lackluster color drawings illustrate the introductory science picture book. The features and life cycle of the humpback whale are defined and described, and comparisons to familiar mammals, including humans, establish the similarities and differences among them.

Kirkus Reviews

The title epitomizes Esbensen's creative presentation of an important concept: how whales differ from the fish they seem to resemble and share characteristics with other mammals. Beginning with a direct comparison with humans, dogs, cats, etc., the author describes a humpback's care of her calf, working in other behaviors, more contrasts with fish and basic facts on mammals. Davis's blue-green underwater scenes are nicely varied with changes in light, points of view, and surroundings; his heavy, sculptural style is well suited to the massive whales, and though his land mammals seem stiff, a whale's eye in close-up shines with intelligence. A concluding spread of six species and a diver is the only key to relative sizes (oddly, the featured humpback isn't included). An excellent addition to the Let's-Read-and- Find-Out series. (Nonfiction/picture book. 3-8)"

School Library Journal

PreS-K-This series entry discusses the ways whales differ from fish, resemble humans, and the features that make them unique creatures of the sea. Using a picture-book format with rather clunky paintings, the simple text introduces children to the common aspects of all warm-blooded mammals. Esbensen focuses on the humpback whale and compares it to cats, dogs, horses, pigs, and humans to establish their commonalities. The humpback life cycle is described and illustrated, a cut-away drawing of a museum display shows a glimpse of blubber and internal organs, and a world map shows where these mammals live in winter and summer. A few other species are mentioned, and contacts for whale-watching tours are listed.-Frances E. Millhouser, Reston Regional Library, VA