Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas
Written  by Lynne Cox, Illustrated by Brian Floca

Summary:
Relates the story of an elephant seal named Elizabeth that was transferred from the Avon River in Christchurch, New Zealand, to the ocean, but found her way back to the city.

Primary Source Pairing:
In this touching true story, the elephant seal named Elizabeth chooses to call the shallow waters of the Avon River in Christchurch, New Zealand home. The book includes the image above in the Author’s Note. When pairing primary sources, always read the Author’s Note or other supplemental material to look for ideas. Additional pairings for this book include a photograph of an elephant seal and a map of New Zealand to show the Avon River.

Questions for Discussion:

• What do you notice about this picture?
• How can you compare the illustrations in the book to this original photograph of Elizabeth?

Credits:
Book Cover and Summary: Follett
Photograph of Elizabeth: Stuff of New Zealand website