| Recommended Books |
|
| Whales of the World, by Phil Clapham.
"The wonderful photos illustrate many aspects of whale life, showing some behaviors never before pictured. . . . recommended for all libraries." "Clapham, a whale biologist with the Smithsonian Institution, writes with an immediacy that only intimate knowledge of the subject can give. The wonderful photos illustrate many aspects of whale life, showing some behaviors never before pictured. . . . this excellent introduction is recommended for all libraries." "This books provides an informative, broad, nontechnical survey of whales of the world including basic details about their origin and evolution, form and function. |
 | National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Marine Mammals, Pieter Folkens (Illustrator); Randall R. Reeves, Brent S. Stewart, Phillip J. Clapham, James A. Powell (Contributors). Photographs, drawings and paintings combine with maps, charts and essays to provide not only data but also insight into the behavior of these highly evolved and specialized animals. The introduction provides a general guide to marine mammals. The individual articles are packed with facts about each species and the best ways to find and identify cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises); pinnipeds (seals and walrus); sirenians (dugongs, manatees); and polar bears and otters. This book is ideal for students and amateur animal watchers. |
 | |
| |
 | Wings in the Sea: The Humpback Whale, by Lois King Winn, Howard E. Winn.
This monograph is the product of the authors' years of personal experience and library research; it will serve as a good reference for both amateurs and professionals. More than 70 selected photographs and drawings and 212 literature references supplement the text. The writing style is non-demanding and accurate. |
 | Humpback Whales (World Life Library), by Phil Clapham.
Humpback Whales introduces the general reader to the environmental and human threats, the life history, and the many fascinating traits of this massive sea mammal. From their gigantic fins to their elaborate song patterns, Dr. Phil Clapham highlights the unique characteristics that set humpbacks apart from other whales. |
| |
| |
 | Field Guide to the Humpback Whale, by Oceanic Society Expeditions, Earthtrust, Michele Morris, Hann Bernard, Hannah J. Bernard.
This guide provides basic knowledge about the biology, migration, conservation, and history of the humpback whale for veteran whalewatchers and novices alike. There are more than two dozen suggested-humpback watching sites included here as well as accompanying maps. Proceeds from this book help support Oceanic Society Expeditions and Earthtrust. |
 | Stellwagen Bank: A Guide to the Whales, Sea Birds, and Marine Life of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, by Nathalie Ward.
This book is an excellent and very enjoyable resource. It is easy to read, good photos, yet packed with information about everything from Captain Stellwagen to glacier formation to the numerous forms of sea life that thrive in Stellwagen Bank. It is peppered with lore about the history of local fishermen and the former whaling industry, and very interesting tidbits about the Massachusetts coast. |
| |
| |
 | Blue Whales (WorldLife Library Series), by John Calambokidis, Gretchen Steiger. An excellent scientific review of blue whales, yet avoids technical terms and flows like a good work of fiction. The photos illustrate the blue whale as a sleek, streamlined creature, not a bulging creature with a form unsuited to graceful movement. |
 | Blue Whale (Animals in Danger), by Rod Theodorou. This book nicely explains the habitat and behavior of the blue whale, why it is endangered, and how children can help save whales. |
| |
| |
 | Beluga Whales and Their Babies (Zoo Life), by Marianne Johnston.
This is an excellent factual book about the birth, habitat and life of a beluga whale. The text is full of information stated in a simple and direct way that young readers would be able to read. The pictures are wonderful, although the actaul photograph of the baby beluga being born is one I would avoid in my elementary classroom. I know the students would think the photos are as adorable as I did! The table of contents, pronounciation keys and glossary are helpful for young students. The big print and bold face vocabulary words make this book perfect for an elementary classroom. The authentic photographs make this book perfect for any child interested in whales or aquariums. I think this is an excellent resource for young children. I love this book!!. |
 | To Touch a Wild Dolphin: A Journey of Discovery With the Sea's Most Intelligent Creatures, by Rachel Smolker.
Monkey Mia, a small fishing camp on Australia's Shark Bay, has been home to friendly wild dolphins for 50 years. These dolphins voluntarily enter shallow water to interact with humans, and then rejoin their lessfriendly compatriots in the wild. Smolker, a student at UCSC, heard about the Monkey Mia dolphins and immediately decided to study them. What followed was 15 years of research, delightfully described here. Smolker has the ability to take the reader with her as she wades into the water to visit the dolphins, learns how to tell them apart, and studies their interactions with humans and with each other. Her descriptions of the highs (a mother dolphin bringing her hoursold baby to see the humans) and lows (lack of steady research funding) of field work, mixed with the excitement of meeting dolphins close up, makes for entrancing reading. Recommended for all libraries. |
| |
| |
 | Friendly Dolphins (Rookie Read-About), by Allan Fowler.
These are cursory collections of facts about two groups of mammals: moles, prairie dogs, gophers, and woodchucks; and dolphins and their relatives, killer whales and porpoises. Dolphins focuses on animals in captivity, while Under the Ground features those in the wild. The choppy texts are illustrated with full-color, stock photographs with plenty of close-ups of cute animal faces. |
 | Dolphins of the World, by Ben Wilson.
Marine zoologist Wilson gives a general reader's overview of oceanic, coastal, and river dolphins. He goes on to discuss beach strandings, dolphin research and conservation, how researchers keep track of individual dolphins, and dolphin watching. |
| |
| |
| Gray Whales (Monterey Bay Aquarium Natural History Series), by David George Gordon.
Gray Whales provides amateur naturalists with a concise introduction to the largest whale that regularly visits the California coast, including its basic biology and habits. The striking underwater photographs of the whales are supplemented with archival pictures of whalers and whaling stations. Gray whales, once hunted nearly to extinction, now number more than 20,000, and swim along the Pacific Coast on their annual migration from the Bering Sea to Baja California and back. Read the latest findings about how grays feed, play, mate, communicate and navigate on these heroic journeys. |
 | The Oceanic Society Field Guide to the Gray Whale, by The Oceanic Society.
This handy 50-page booklet is the first and only practical guide to viewing the biannual migration of gray whales along the Pacific Coast. It includes fascinating information about the natural history and habits of the gray whale as well as maps and directions to whale watching sites from Alaska to Baja. Proceeds of this book help support the Oceanic Society. |
| |
| |
 | Saving the Gray Whale: People, Politics, and Conservation in Baja California, by Serge Dedina.
The peninsula of Baja California is a place little known even within Mexico, a place, until very recently, of isolated fishing villages and single-lane roads. Now great fleets of fishing boats from all over the world, coupled with a gigantic saltworks and other industrial development, threaten the waters off Baja California--a favored habitat of the gray whale, a creature that has received much attention in recent years. Once endangered throughout much of its range, the gray whale has made a comeback thanks to international efforts to preserve the species. Ecologist Serge Dedina discusses how those efforts can be extended to Baja California, where much of the whale's habitat is threatened. Dedina proposes ways to involve local fishing people in whale conservation. His book, full of useful lessons, will be of much interest to conservationists working with animals and habitats of all kinds, as well as to anyone concerned about the gray whale's future. |
 | Sightings: The Gray Whales' Mysterious Journey, by Brenda Peterson, Linda Hogan.
The gray whale is probably the most watched of all the whales as their yearly migration along the Pacific coast brings them close to the many watchers on shore and in boats. Peterson, a nature writer, and Hogan, a Native American poet, spent seven years following the whales' migration and talking with people affected by the whales. The two voices of the authors are rendered in different type, with Hogan's more philosophical musing on the relationship between human and whale juxtaposed with Peterson's more reporterly presentation of gray whale natural history and of the people who interact with them. Starting with a visit to the calving grounds in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, the authors socialize with the whales known as "friendlies" because they choose to approach people. Other sections follow the migration, showcase differing viewpoints on the Makah tribe's renewed hunting of whales and on aboriginal whaling in general, and discuss the summer home of the gray whales in the Arctic seas, where the whales feast and grow fat for their return journey south. |
| |
| |
 | Eye of the Whale: Epic Passage from Baja to Siberia, by Dick Russell.
More than a century ago, the whaler Charles Melville Scammon chased pods of gray whales across the Pacific, slaughtering them by the hundreds and driving them nearly to the point of extinction. Dick Russell, a noted conservationist and journalist, follows Scammon's wake, bringing news both good and bad about the condition of the gray whale today. |
 | Reflections of a Whale-Watcher, by Michelle A. Gilders. Environmental scientist and whale-watcher Gilders shares her experiences with whales during voyages off Baja California, Mexico, and offers compelling reasons for ceasing the assault on the largest mammals. She recounts whaling history and discusses environmental issues and ethical dilemmas involving whales and other wildlife. Includes a list of Baja's flora and fauna, and a complete whale list, plus color and b&w photos. |
| |
| |
 | Blue Planet, by Andrew Byatt, Alastair Fothergill, Martha Holmes.
Published in conjunction with the BBC/Discovery Channel, this stunning book reveals the secrets of our water planet. It covers biological & physical oceanography, the seas of the tropics, temperate regions, and the poles; the open oceans far from land; and the deep-sea regions. Extensively illustrated with maps, charts, and photographs, plant and animal life are depicted in beautiful photographs, many of which show rarely seen creatures. |
 | Killer Whales (World Life Library), by Sara Heimlich-Boran, James R. Boran, Sara L. Heimlich
Killer Whales provides the most up-to-date information on these impressive creatures. Readers will discover their mythical status through the centuries, and will learn about their intricate societal structure and their incredible biological design, as well as the threats facing the orca today: water pollution, over-fishing of their prey, noise pollution and other environmental concerns. |
| |
| |
 | Transients: Mammal-Hunting Killer Whales of British Columbia, Washington, and Southeastern Alaska, by John K. B. Ford, Graeme M. Ellis.
Describes the natural history of killer whales and provides a catalogue of identification photographs for whale enthusiasts. With a focus on transient killer whales, Ford (director of marine mammal research, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre and professor at the U. of British Columbia) and Ellis (marine mammal research technician, Pacific Biological Station) give the latest information on their feeding habits, social lives, and distribution patterns. The catalogue section contains color and b&w photographs of and notes on about 200 individual whales, and sidebars present interesting observations on encounters with transients as well as where and how to watch for them. |
 | Killer Whales: The Natural History and Genealogy of Orcinus Orca in British Columbia and Washington State, by John K. B. Ford, Graeme M. Ellis, Kenneth C., III Balcomb.
The three authors have been studying killer whales since the 1970s, when they began photographing dorsal fins and the gray saddle patches at the base of the fins in order to identify individual whales. They present the latest information on killer whale natural history; suggestions on how, when, and where to best watch killer whales; and a catalog of some 300 photographs of "resident" killer whales which can be used to identify individuals and their family groups. |
| |
| |
 | Sperm Whales, by Jonathan Gordon.
A general introduction to this fascinating animal, explaining their evolution, physical characteristics, distribution, migration, behavior, and social structure. Sperm Whales is a reliable guide to this animal that will appeal to a wide audience of nature lovers-from young adults on up. An excellent brief introduction to its subject, more like a very good encyclopedia than a book text. The pictures are first rate. |
 | Stove by a Whale: Owen Chase and the Essex, by Thomas Farel Heffernan.
This excellent book contains about the completest history of the sinking of the Essex by a whale in 1820, which provided Melville the idea for his climax in the novel. Not only does it contain all the information known on the Essex's crewmen, but it also contains, unabridged, Chase's Narrative, along with the accounts of the survivors and their rescuers, plus Melville's marginalia in his copy of Chase's Narrative. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the Essex, 19th century whalers, or Herman Melville. |
| |
| |
 | Moby Dick or The Whale (Modern Library Series), by Herman Melville, Rockwell Kent (Illustrator).
Moby Dick is one of the most elegantly written novels in American history. While it is the story of the Pequod's journey around the world in search of Moby Dick, it is also far more than that. The psychological studies of Captain Ahab and the other boatsmen that Melville has sent along on the voyage are captivating. At down times in the Pequod's search, Ishmael, the onboard narrator, gives many insights into the mind of the typical early nineteenth century whaler. He also gives brilliant, colorful analyses of whales and other marine wildlife encountered on their journey. Some of these chapters may seem tedious at first, but their fundamental nature in relation to the heart of the story and the motivation of its lively characters quickly becomes apparent. While this book might appear lengthy to the modern American reader, it is definitely worth the time spent in its consumption as it is one of the most beautiful of all American novels. |
 | Shipwreck of the Whale-Ship Essex: Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing, by Owen Chase, Tim Cahill.
The original narratives of the whaling disaster that inspired Moby-Dick. Melville's famous description of the sinking of the Pequod by the white whale--one of the most exciting moments in American literature--was based on a true story documented in 1821 by first mate Owen Chase in his Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whaleship Essex, and by his shipmate and captain in two separate accounts. Each account tells of a sperm whale's attack on the Essex in the South Seas, and of the crew's three-month struggle while stranded in small open boats. Of twenty men, eight survived. Six who died were eaten by their shipmates, one--the cabin boy--after lots had been drawn. This volume reproduces these gripping accounts, as well as Herman Melville's notes on the narratives. It sheds light on both our darkest impulses and our most ascendant selves, and gives rare insight into the workings of one of the most important literary minds of all time. |
| |
| |
 | The Whale Watcher's Guide: Whale-Watching Trips in North America, by Patricia Corrigan, Roger Payne.
An updated edition of the book that helps plan a whale-watching trip. With new information regarding whale tours in North America, this valuable guide explains everything from where to see these magnificent animals and what a tour will cost, to what to watch for and what to wear. Includes updated information on pricing, dates, tour operators, and contact information. 35 illustrations. |
 | The Whale-Watcher's Handbook: A Field Guide to the Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of North America, by David K. Bulloch, Lou Burlingame (Illustrator).
This handy book would add interest to a sailing expedition to the Channel Islands or just an ordinary trip to the beach. This book is handy for those actually taking whale-watching tours, but it could prove indispensable for those who find themselves afloat without benefit of trained naturalists. |
| |
| |
 | Gone A-Whaling: The Lure of the Sea and the Hunt for the Great Whale, by Jim Murphy
Diary entries form the backbone of this fascinating look at whale hunting in America, from the nineteenth century to today. Murphy structures his tale like a whaling voyage, beginning with the thrill of signing up for duty and ending with a grateful trip home. In between, he describes life and work aboard the ship, including the grisly techniques for killing, harvesting, and processing the enormous animals. Murphy occasionally scolds nineteenth-century whalers for their harsh approach, rather than explaining their lack of knowledge about the sophisticated creatures they hunted. Beautifully illustrated and a sprinkling of sidebars supplies details about the most hunted whale species. |
 | A Whale Hunt: How a Native-American Village Did What No One Thought They Could, by Robert Sullivan.
The Makah are a Native American tribe living on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. The gray whale is a migratory cetacean, hunted for generations by the Makah and other coastal tribes until it was nearly driven extinct by commercial whaling. A moratorium on all hunting of the gray whale was declared, and the Makah had not hunted whales in 70 years. In 1995 the gray whale was taken off the endangered species list, and the Makah began a legal battle to resume whaling. There was only one problem... |
| |
| |
| The Pinnipeds: Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses, by Marianne Riedman.
Comprehensive. Well written. Informative. Accessible. ... I can't think of enough positive things to say about this book. Riedman manages to give readers a thorough overview of the biology and habits of sea lions, seals and walruses. The book is encyclopedic in its scope, but you do not have to be a biologist or naturalist to appreciate the details it covers. And then there are the pictures: maps, photos, line drawings and other illustrations help bring to life the various pinnipeds Riedman discusses. |
 | See and Explore Library: Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, by Mark Carwardine, Martin Camm (Illustrator) Carwardine explains that new species of these elusive creatures are still being discovered. The book's description of 79 species is based upon the author's and illustrator's own observations and the works of many other specialists. General information on diet, habitat, anatomy, behavior, and conservation prefaces the specific descriptions. |
| |
| |
| Fluke, by Christopher Moore.
In this novel, biologist Nate Quinn has been researching whale songs off the coast of Hawaii for years, and although he enjoys his work, he's never discovered anything really earth-shattering . . . until the day he sights the whale with "Bite Me" written across its tail. This astounding spectacle soon leads him and his trusty companions--flirtatious research assistant Amy; Clay, his loyal photographer; their perpetually stoned surfer-dude helper, Kona; and Nate's ex-wife, Libby, on a surprising adventure above and below the ocean. |
 | Listening To Whales, by Alexandra Morton Orca researcher Morton describes her more than 20 years studying the movements and sounds of orcas, the mammals, actually dolphins, commonly known as killer whales. Throughout her warm, energetic memoir, she relates her work to the strides made by other marine biologists, consistently balancing her open curiosity about the vagaries of mother nature with solid scientific inquiry. Morton's rich descriptions of individual orca movements, and how each relates to the species as a whole, course alongside her passionate defense of the ecological balance of the region. |
| |
| |
MARINE SCIENCE BESTSELLERS |
WHALE BESTSELLERS
| ||
| ...Or Go Here For More Amazon.com Marine Mammal Books | |||
| | Sightings | Featured Whale | Amazing Facts | News | Photos | Research Trips | Sounds | Membership | Adopt A Whale | |
| | HOME Page | About WCNE | Research | Education | Conservation | Whale Watch | Links | Support | Site Map/Search | |