Walrus: On Location

From School Library Journal Grade 3-5-- The Pacific walrus is the featured animal, Walrus Islands Sanctuary in the Bering Sea the setting, and natural behavior the action. The naturalists' observations of male walruses "hauling out" onto land to molt and heal fighting wounds is interspersed with facts about the purpose of tusks and body adaptation to land and sea. How this mammal obtains food, attracts a mate, and behaves in groups is explained; clear, captioned full-color photographs support the text. An index, a "Walrus Facts" page, and migration maps are included. A chapter called "The Cliff Hanger" gives a dramatic account of one trapped walrus that survives a fall into the sea. Wordplay used for other chapter headings such as "Go With the Floe" and "The Ugli Place" is somewhat contrived, but will gain readers' attention. The writing style is lucid and generally straightforward. Add this to the animal section, where few books exist about this threatened species. --Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Kirkus Reviews Outstanding full-color photos and a delightfully informative text document bull walruses in their summer habitat off the coast of Siberia. Once abundant, these giant sea mammals were hunted for their meat, oil, and ivory tusks until the population became seriously endangered. Now protected, the walruses inhabit seven small islands that have become the Walrus Island Sanctuary. Survival is not easy in the harsh Arctic environment; the 2,000- pound giants require a daily diet of 800 giant clams, 10,000 small clams or 100 pounds of mixed worms. They are so well insulated that they overheat at temperatures of 0 degrees Fahrenheit--some of the photos show overheated pink and rusty-red walruses waving their flippers to cool down. Intriguing science reporting with unusual appeal. Migration chart; brief walrus facts; index. (Nonfiction. 8-14) --