Carrie Newell (author), Jack Wiens (illustrator) / Torchflame Books / 72 pages
Carrie Newell, a marine biologist and whale-watching guide in the Pacific Northwest, has had great success over the years training her companion dogs to locate gray whales when they return from Mexico each summer. In her children’s book, Koda and the Whales: A True Story, Newell conveys her enthusiasm and knowledge through the eyes of Koda, one of her whale-sniffing dogs. She details the beginning of Koda’s training and the canine traits that make her uniquely qualified to detect the presence of these magnificent mammals from a great distance by catching the scent of whale spouts on the wind.
Newell packs a lot of educational material and anecdotes into the book’s few dozen pages. Throughout, she shares interesting facts about the whales, their behaviors, and their individual characteristics, as well as stories of Koda’s encounters with them and aspects of the research she has completed with the aid of her dogs. Jack Wiens’s illustrations strike the right balance between playfulness and realism, providing colorful vignettes to accompany some of the more technical details. The book also contains a moving tribute to the dogs who preceded Koda, offering readers an opportunity to reflect on the relationships we have shared with companion animals who are no longer with us.
Older readers who are fans of whales, dogs—or both—will likely enjoy reading Koda and the Whales straight through. Caregivers may need to help younger children absorb its contents through several sessions—an approach made easier by Newell’s episodic presentation of Koda’s experiences. Bonus content at the end, including a glossary and worksheets, are a nice addition, reinforcing key facts and helping children retain what they learn.