Trapped! A Whale’s Rescue
Written by Robert Burleigh, Illustrated by Wendell Minor
Summary:
In the icy waters of the Pacific, a massive humpback whale unexpectedly finds herself tangled in a net abandoned by fishermen. When a rescue boat and a convoy of divers arrive to help the struggling humpback, a realistic and moving encounter bridges the human and aquatic worlds.
Primary Source Pairing:
Humpback whales are the giants of the sea. Pairing an image of a whale, as shown above, gives students perspective as to how massive a humpback whale is. For an environmental lesson, pair an image of polluted ocean waters. To engage multiple senses, pair an image of a humpback whale with the sounds of its underwater song. Use the Library of Congress Primary Source Analysis Tool focusing on evaluating sound recordings to guide discussion.
Questions for Discussion:
- Describe what you see.
- What do you notice first?
- What’s happening in the image?
- What can you learn from examining this image?
- Describe what you hear.
- What do you notice first?
Credits:
Book Cover and Summary: Follett
Image of NOAA diver and humpback whale: NOAA Flickr Page
Primary Source Pairings 