I Wonder Why Whales Sing and Other Questions About Sea Life

The book absolutely piques curiosity and fosters higher level thinking. It could be a great grounds to hook students into a topic and then explore more from there.

• Author: Caroline Harris
• Year Published: 2006
• ISBN: 0753459655

Science Topics

• Life Science

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

• Kindergarten

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

• 5th Grade

Summary

I Wonder Why Whales Sing is a children´s book organized by various questions about sea life. This book is part of a series that is jam-packed with fascinating facts about the world and how it works.

Evaluation

• Appropriateness: High
• Authority: High
• Accuracy: Medium
• Liteary Artistry: Medium
• Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

The book absolutely piques curiosity and fosters higher level thinking. It could be a great grounds to hook students into a topic and then explore more from there.

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

The book does provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions. It is a great resource for children who already have questions about sea life, and could absolutely be used for those who simply want to learn more about the ocean.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

The book is designed to ask and answer questions for children. A lot of the facts are given, but do encourage children to think further on the topics.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

This book addresses life sciences, specifically in the ocean. It is a very appropriate level for young children to use as a resource to answer their own questions.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

For the most part, the book is based on sound scientific principle. It has a lot of relevant and accurate information. However, some of the material is designed at a children's level and uses unscientific vocabulary to discuss certain topics. For example, the book asks questions such as "What lettuce would make a nasty sandwich" to talk about different aquatic plants and "Who has a funny home" to discuss habitats.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

The book does not distinguish between fact and fiction. All of the information presented is presented in a factual manner. However, the book uses words to describe sea life such as "nasty" and "funny" to describe sea life which is obviously not scientific.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

The illustrations are clear and accurate. The illustrations are drawn in a very realistic manner.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

This book is written at a level for 5-8 year olds. I believe it could be used for students between Kindergarten and even 5th grade for research projects.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

There is no multicultural component to the book. It is strictly about sea life.

Is the book free from gender bias?

The book is free from gender bias. It is strictly about sea life.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

The book does not lend itself to other disciplines.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

The book does present a positive attitude towards science and technology. It is designed to stimulate student interest in these areas.