Whale

This book literally offers no development of processes. I guess it kind of offers prediction in that the town has decided to help the whale out and when they mention doing a "rain dance," the reader can predict how the rain might help the whale leave the town. The book also brings up that sea creatures live on the sea, and people live on the land, so that might help with some comprehension of differences.

Author: David Lucas
Illustrator: David Lucas
Year Published: 2006
ISBN: 978-0-375-843389

Science Topics

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

1st Grade

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

3rd Grade

Summary

After a terrible thunderstorm, a boy wakes up to find that a whale has washed up onto the shore of his town. His giant whale body has caused terrible damage and the townspeople work together to figure out how to help Whale back into the ocean. Together, Whale and Townspeople solve Whale's problem and restore the town to it's proper condition.

Evaluation

Appropriateness: Medium
Authority: Medium
Accuracy: Low
Liteary Artistry: Low
Appearance: Medium

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

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

The book allows students to ask how the town will help the whale, but it doesn't offer much more than that. It never discusses how the whale got beached by the house in the first place, or how any of the actions that are taking place work. It rained too much at one point and the whale drank all of the excess water that everyone was in. What? It never explains anything behind that.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

As I have mentioned a few times, the reader is allowed to predict how the town might help the whale and what might happen, but it is such a farfetched story that any thinking that might take place in the reader's mind is quickly shut down.

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

No. Everything discussed is so exaggerated and over the top that the story almost doesn't make any sense at all.

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

No. The science here makes no sense. Whales are not nearly as large as this whale is being portrayed. You cannot fit entire cities on them. Rain doesn't work the way that the book portrays- a rain dance and then the rain fills up the city and creates a new ocean in the matter of minutes. Finally, whale's do not just drink water to make the sea level go down.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

Absolutely not. The book ties together fact and fiction, as a town living peacefully together would be factual, but then a whale brushing up right next to someones house is definitely fiction. The characters seem like they would be real people, and they are reacting logically to the situation, but the situation is ridiculous.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

Yes, I would say that the illustrations match what the story is saying. Except for the fact that the illustrations portray the whale as such a ginormous creature.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

This would be good for 1st or 2nd grade maybe. The words are not too difficult and there is hardly any actual scientific content to grasp, so the students wouldn't need to be that advanced in their thinking. In fact, the whole story is so gratuitous, that it probably wouldn't require much thinking.

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

There isn't any trace of multi culture in the book. Each character is the same color (white) and the entire town seems to be of the same economic class, as the houses all look similar and the clothes all look similar.

Is the book free from gender bias?

As far as illustration goes, the women of the town are all wearing dresses and are often holding a mirror in front of their face. Other than that, I didn't notice any gender bias. It may be notable to add that the main character, whale, mayor and owl who finds help are all male.

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

The only other discipline I can imagine being observed in this book is social studies, because the town decides to help the whale and they all pitch in and do what they can. In return, the sea creatures work together to fix the people's town that was wrecked by the giant beached whale (which was such a weird portrayal/introduction to beached whales).

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

I don't think the book really presented any attitude towards science and technology. If you consider technology to be a series of units working together for the greater good of the entire machine, then yes this book had a very positive outlook in that it portrays a town that works very well together to solve their problem and fix their home