Product Description
What has the whiskers of a walrus, the eyes of a mole, the wrinkles of an elephant, the tail of a beaver, and the gentle nature of a sloth? A slow-moving, water-loving, plant-eating, gentle giant called a manatee. The manatee has been swimming the oceans for ages. But today this ancient animal faces an uncertain future. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Caught Many
This is a fantastic book for all ages and disiplines.Children of all ages will appreciate it for fact and fantasy.Art students will be enthralled by the creatures.It is a must have for teachers.

Great book, good cause...
Wonderful black and blue artwork features endangered ocean life.It's accompanying A to Z primer (featuring endanged animals) is great too.

Another ingenious and gorgeous book from a Caldecott winner.
The illustrator David McLimans once more celebrates the intriguing beauty of our vanishing natural world with his sophisticated drawings.This is a book that attracts both adults and children, and its mournful thesis of the oceans' demise is put to constructive use with a respectful look at the miracles of sea life and the need to counteract the harmful habits of humans.Breathtaking in every way. ... Read more

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A sea otter pup lies curled up in a kelp frond, bobbingin gentle swells while its mother dives for food.Without its mother,this pup would not survive.The compelling photos and compassioantestories that fill these pages will show how the staff of the MontereyBay Aquarium's Sea Otter Research and Conservation program pioneereffective ways to rear sea otters for life in the wild. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very strong factual depictions
I enjoyed this book for its factual & positive content regarding sea otters.If you are a lover of sea otter, Saving Sea Otters is probably a must.It's not fiction.It's not a compelling story per say, in terms of pure storytelling, but I found it very compelling to understand otters and the people who care for them.The photos are excellent.I'm glad I bought it but then again, I am an otter nut.

Saving Sea Otters
"Saving Sea Otters" by Elin kelsey is a book dealing mainly with the plight of the southern sea otter and its dwindling population. The cover shows a furry little sea otter wrapped in a kelp bed.The book showsthe behind-the-scenes work that researchers, scientists, veterinarians,volunteers and friends of the sea otter do. There are wonderful,clearpictures throughout the book showing the interaction between the sea ottersand the people who care for them. Many times the sea otters are hurt,injured or unable to care for themselves and that's when the caretakersstep in to nurse them back to health. Most of the book takes place in thefamous Monterey Bay Aquarium and the waters of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary.If one is interested in sea otters, I would definitely recommend this book.Thank you...Don Bieber ... Read more

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The manatees are facing extinction in Florida waters. The book is compiled of facts, not fantasy. Faulkner believes the text is too important a document about manatees overwhelmed by pesticides, people, pollution and power boats not to publish it as a book in itself. Manatees are living beings and need our help sooner than later ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Faulkner does it again!
It it obvious from reading Douglas Falkner's book on Manatees and how their lives are impacted by over a million boats in Florida's waters every year, and by Florida's 15 million residents and 60 million tourist every year, why these gentle creatures are on the endangered spieces list.

Faulkner's running text, though it is only 101 pages long gives one little opportunity to put the book down, nor does his lively writing style give one little incentive.

Power boats are not the only enemies of the Manatees.Man made pollution, habitat destruction, pesticides and herbicides as well are killing the Manatees and the beauty that once was Florida.

The title of the book, Of Manatees and Man, is well chosen for the life and death of the manatees cannot be seperated from the life and death of man and his habitates. ... Read more

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Join Baby Harp seal on a day of fun and adventure as he explores and plays in the fluffy white snow ... Read more

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There is disturbing evidence of high mortality of salmon at sea. The need for a multidisciplinary study of contributing factors and appropriate action has been advocated for some time. As a result, the Atlantic Salmon Trust, organised a workshop under the chairmanship of Derek Mills to redress this situation, bringing together climatologists, oceanographers, planktonologists and marine and salmon biologists to clarify and discuss the environmental and biological issues affecting survival. Proposals are put forward for further research and collaboration. ... Read more

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Giant leatherback turtles are the largest of all reptiles and swam the oceans while dinosaurs roamed the earth.Every year the females swim thousands of miles to lay their eggs on the beaches where they were hatched.They haul themselves out of the ocean onto a sunny beach, dig a hole with their flippers and lay from 50 to more than 100 eggs. Then they dance to scruff up the sand and to cover up any evidence that they had been there.Only a few of their babies make it to adulthood.The rest are food for gulls, sharks, and other fish. Human activity threatens the survival of the species.Fishing nets, plastic bags that the turtles mistake for jellyfish, and human habitation on beaches causes the deaths of thousands every year. Slow-moving on land, leatherback turtles soar underwater as if they are birds with wings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Leatherback Turtles, the World's Largest Reptiles
This story describes the incredible ritual of egg-laying that mother leatherbacks perform each year. Well-written and full of rich detail. Children will love this story.

Giant leatherback turtles are the largest of all reptiles and swam the oceans while dinosaurs roamed the earth.Every year the females swim thousands of miles to lay their eggs on the beaches where they were hatched.

They haul themselves out of the ocean onto a sunny beach, dig a hole with their flippers and lay from 50 to more than 100 eggs. Then they dance to scruff up the sand and to cover up any evidence that they had been there.

Only a few of their babies make it to adulthood.The rest are food for gulls, sharks, and other fish. Human activity threatens the survival of the species.Fishing nets, plastic bags that the turtles mistake for jellyfish, and human habitation on beaches causes the deaths of thousands every year.

Slow-moving on land, leatherback turtles soar underwater as if they are birds with wings. ... Read more

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"[Woodard] successfully brings to life the fascinating mysteries of marine science [and] outlines strategies that, he contends, must be taken to save our seas."-Publishers WeeklyThe Black Sea is already dead. Because of sea-level rise, an entire nation in the South Pacific, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, is being washed away. Throughout the Caribbean Sea, vast stretches of coral reef-called the "rainforests of the ocean" because of their diversity of life-are dying at increasingly rapid rates. The reefs along the entire north coast of Jamaica are dead. Ocean's End is not about the damage our oceans could suffer (and inflict) in ten or a hundred years, if we're not careful. It's an eyewitness account, in compelling and vivid detail, of the massive worldwide destruction that's already happened.Amazon.com Review
Take a pristine coral reef off the mangrove-forested coast ofBelize, one that draws a handsome roster of fish and other seacreatures--and, therefore, a complement of scuba divers, sportsfishermen, photographers, and other consumers of nature. Add anairstrip to serve these cash customers, then a hotel, then a seawall,then a golf course, then a desalination plant. In no time, thanks tothe changes you've wrought on the coastal ecology, you'll have a deadreef in a dead patch of sea.

Such wanton destruction is the normfor today, writes science journalist Colin Woodard, who debarks fromhis travels on the world's seas with depressing and unremittingly badnews. One of the victims is the Black Sea of Eurasia, once a thrivingextension of the Atlantic, now all but destroyed by "overfishing, oilspills, industrial discharges, nutrient pollution, wetlandsdestruction," and other ills. The ravaged Black Sea is mirrored inother places to which Woodard travels: the South Pacific, the Gulf ofMexico, the Antarctic. In such places significant ecologicaltransformations are occurring, all in a very short period of time, allperhaps irreversible, all certainly dangerous to the health of thebiosphere. "The oceans," Woodard urges his readers to consider, "arefinite and destructible. Wastes dumped and drained into the ocean donot disappear; they are neither economic nor ecological externalities.Likewise, marine fish and animals are not commodities like iron,wheat, or broilers; they are wildlife." Adding to works such as CarlSafina's Song for theBlue Ocean, Woodard makes a clear and urgent call for thereversal of all this destruction and for the protection of the world'swaters. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Powerful and Well Written
Wow, on the heals of reading Our Stolen Future, this was a bit of a shock...you know I had no idea the Black Sea was in such bad shape...I guess I really am out of touch with the world these days.Living in my own particular inner bubble, as it were, I seem to have missed out on some doings I used to pay a great deal of attention to.

I've long felt that we're slowly destroying our oceans and seas; I didn't realize we had actually accomplished it somewhere already.I strongly believe that nature is resilient and that it rights itself by restoring balance after we wreak havoc...but we also need to be taking some action and this book really brought that home for me.Ocean's End follows Woodward from the Black Sea forward on a global journey that touches on Newfoundland, the Mississippi Delta, Belize and the Great Barrier Reef, the Federated States of Micronesia, and finally to Antarctica.

In a compelling journey the documents the once pristine conditions, teeming with in all of these areas with their intensely interesting and varied ecosystems and the native peoples who lived (and still are trying to live) there, to the decline/destruction of these ecosystems and the empty bag they fisherman and villages in these places are left holding.He also takes care to point out that the decline of each ecosystem affects others and the world wide "chain" of them are all interconnected.Additionally, he points out that it's not a localized problem, many of the causes of an ecosystems decline happen far from the location where the ultimate damage is done (the Mississippi Delta for example).

Woodard really weaves it all together into a nice package that lays out the depth of the problem and he does give tentative solutions...if anything can successfully be done to "fix" this problem, it won't come easy or cheap and we definitely need to get away from the short-sighted profit driven solutions that have been developed in the past.I'd recommend this in a heart beat, if you don't think this is a serious problem, you should definitely read this book!

A Really Good Book
A really good "eye-opener".This is the third copy I've bought. How blissfully unaware most of us are about what is going on around us. This book might encourage the latent environmental leanings in all of us.

Coastal Policy Has Killed the Oceans!
Ocean's End is one of the most compelling examples of how bad Coastal Zone policy has destroyed vast areas of ocean and shore. It is not too strong a point that human beings in recent history have behaved themselves very, very badly as they looted the seas and dumped their waste and industrial toxins down river or directly into the sea. I am using this book in my International Integrated Coastal Zone Management class as the first assigned textbook. (...)

Why? Because I want my graduate students to first see how wonderful the world's oceans and coastal zones are and secondly, how incredibly stupid and short sighted we can be as we mismanage our responsibilities as stewards of these ecosystems. Colin Woodward has done a wonderful job of narrating a gripping, exciting, and enfuriating story from the killing of the Black Sea to the plundering of the Newfoundland Grand Banks and all of the other case studies in between.

This is a book worth reading and also one that is compellingly interesting and enjoyable. Take it on your next trip or read it and then take my web-based graduate class in International Coastal Management. You'll be ahead of yourself!

One of the most devastating books I've read
Each chapter in this book tells a story illustrating a different crisis, and each gives something new to be outraged over.The stories are well-written, and Ocean's End gives the best summary of global warming that I have read.It is easy to understand (making the reader feel almost intelligent).I would recommend this to everyone, and wish there was a way to get this into high school curricula.

My only complaint is the summary.Woodard draws the reader's passions out, but doesn't suggest explicit ways to get involved in the issues.I ended up writing letters to my congressional representatives.

Read this book, and start your own letter campaign.

A great book
This is a great book.Thoughtful, balanced, readable.Buy two copies and give one to a friend. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1988 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed two endemic fishes of the upper Klamath River basin of Oregon and California, the sucker and the Lost River sucker, as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). In 1997, the National Marine Fisheries Service added the Southern Oregon Northern coastal California (SONCC) coho salmon as a threatened species to the list. The leading factors attributed to the decline of these species were overfishing, blockage of migration, entrainment by water management structures, habitat degradation, nonnative species, and poor water quality. "Endangered and Threatened Fishes of the Klamath River Basin" addresses the scientific aspects related to the continued survival of coho salmon and shortnose and Lost River suckers in the Klamath River. The book further examines and identifies gaps in the knowledge and scientific information needed for recovery of the listed species, and provides an assessment of scientific considerations relevant to strategies for promoting the recovery of those species. ... Read more

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Limulus in the Limelight: A Species 350 Million Years in theMaking and in Peril? contains 14 chapters covering thehorseshoe crab's biology, ecology and evolutionary development. Thebook is a result of three mini-conferences held between 1996 and 2000celebrating the populations in NY harbor. This book exposes theimpacts of over fishing on this species; clarifies the future researchagenda for the species worldwide and emphasizes the need forconservation of this fascinating creature's estuaries/oceanhabitats.Biologists, ecologists, science educators, and conservationists willwelcome this book because it is aimed at the preservation ofLimulus, not only for its pharmacological interest but for themystery related to its longevity. Limulus is a unique animal which hasprovided numerous uses for man over the years, from fertilizer to baitto medical research. However, if this species is not protected soon,it will be lost for the future. ... Read more

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This series of books looks in detail at those animals that are now extinct and those that are endangered. What is extinction? And when does an animal become classified as endangered? Starting with the known mass extinctions from prehistory, including the dinosaurs, the series looks at the main biomes of the world, looking at extinction and endangered animals in each. It also looks optimistically at what can be done to save some precious species. Endangered and Extinct Animals of the Islands and Oceans takes a close look at the fascinating creatures that are fast disappearing from our seas. It examines why island wildlife is particularly vulnerable to extinction, what ancient creatures may still be surviving in the ocean depths and what the problems faced by today's whales and sharks are. ... Read more

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The Beluga or White Whale (Delphinapterus leucas)is an Arctic and sub-Arctic species of cetacean. It is one of two members of the family Monodontidae, along with the Narwhal. This marine mammal is commonly referred to simply as the Beluga or Sea Canary due to its high-pitched twitter. It is up to 5 m (15 ft) in length and an unmistakable all-white color with a distinctive protuberance on the head. From a conservation perspective, the Beluga is considered "near threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature; however the subpopulation from the Cook Inlet in Alaska is considered critically endangered and has been placed under the protection of the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. federal government. ... Read more

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A compelling tale of magical myths and startling facts, of ruthless hunters and dedicated conservationists and of the uncanny gentleness of creatures poised on the edge of extinction. This story takes readers on adventures into the primordial springs of Florida to explore the crystalline home of the manatee firsthand. Also compares the chubby manatee to the voluptuous mermaid of legend. Photos and illustrations. ... Read more

Product Description
Daniel and the Ivory Princess is a fully illustrated, full color, magical journey that follows Daniel, a young dolphin, and his aquatic friends Nikki the Sea Otter and Scuba the Sea Squirrel as they dive into a courageous mission to save the last of the Ivory Dolphins.

Adventure runs wild in this inspiring story of compassion, friendship and courage. With the theme of "Reaching for the Stars", Daniel and the Ivory Princess will encourage, entertain and inspire children of all ages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Saw this at a Ruby Tuesday restaurant
It is evident that the author put a lot of hard work and energy into creating this book; however, the story is rather bland and the illustrations are of amateur quality. If you want to support a "starving artist," go ahead and buy the book. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to order it.

What a Fantastic Childrens Author!!
Kevin Martin is a fantastic childrens author who writes highly imaginative stories with beautiful illustrations.I was turned on to this book by a friend from work who has a son who just loves this story.I look forward to reading Kevin Martin's future releases as he is truly a children's literary treasure for everyone to enjoy!

A Story The Entire Family Will Enjoy
Daniel and The Ivory Princess is a well thought out story with a fun underwater twist to it. The characters are adorable and lovable. The story teaches a lesson on friendship, working together and being the best that each of us can be. From Daniel to Seavil, from Crystal, The Ivory Princessto Karky the shark the story finds the the best in each of them. It reallyis a cute story will an ending we can share and discuss with our childrenon many differnet levels. The illustrations are fun. Kevin visited my sonsschool last week for Meet the Artist Week. What a delightful two days weshared with Kevin and his wife as he spread his message that with a litlehelp- we can all reach for the stars! Thanks Kevin! My children love thebook! ... Read more

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They are commonly described as "killers" and "primitive," but recent research reveals that sharks are rarely dangerous to humans. Among the researchers rescuing the man-eating reputation of these deep-sea dwellers is marine biologist Doug Perrine.

Perrine admits to having been bitten by sharks but claims responsibility, saying most "shark attacks" should instead be called "shark defenses" since the animals usually are responding to provocation by humans. Sharks is filled with Perrine's first-hand accounts, and provides the most up-to-date information on behavior, biology, distribution, reproduction, senses, and habits of sharks. Sure to appeal to divers, environmentalists, zoo and natural history audiences, Sharks also calls for swift and far-reaching conservation measures to secure the survival of sharks.Discover the world's animals in the WorldLife Library from Voyageur Press. This highly acclaimed series brings you the latest research from leading naturalists, along with stunning color photographs of your favorite animals.Also recommended: Sperm Whales, Killer Whales, Humpback Whales, Blue Whales, Seals & Sea Lions, Penguins, Alligators & Crocodiles, Sea Turtles, Bottlenose Dolphins, Porpoises. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

One of the best
A top-notch, very clearly written and exceptionally well illustrated field guide to most of the tropical and temperate shark species known to science today. Basically aimed at the non-specialist reader, this guide features nonetheless scientifically correct texts and excellent color photos (all of live, free specimens taken in the wild - which is quite a feat!), offering reliable information, excellent value for money and hours of viewing/reading pleasure. Advanced readers, divers, snorkellers and underwater photographers looking for more photo-packed, exhaustive guides to coral reef marine life worldwideshould alsoconsider the latest offerings by this well respected author/photographer husband-and-wife team, such as the spectacularly illustrated A Diver's Guide to Reef Life, the highly specialized A Diver's Guide to Underwater Malaysia Macrolife and the truly informative A Diver's Guide to The Art of Underwater Photography, Creative Techniques and Camera Systems for Digital and Film. Quality-wise, these titles are virtually unsurpassed today in their respective fields.

Great Little Book
I really like this book, although some of the pictures could be better as far as showing more angles are concerned.It basically describes many of the different kinds of sharks, with information about where they are located, typical size, and different habits of each.It has pictures for all the sharks that it describes, even the obscure ones.I had never seen a picture of a goblin shark (although it is dead) until I got this book!I recommend this book to anyone interested in sharks.While it isn't perfect, it is better than most I've seen, and is a nice book to have in your collection.

Worth buying!
This is a book I go back to again and again. The info is concise and also contains interesting articles from experts.

A photopacked presentation
Over 120 species of sharks and rays are illustrated in this concise guide, which adds essays on their history, biology and ecology. From cover to cover, Sharks is a photopacked presentation that will prove to be a very specific reference, and any library seeking one good comprehensive shark book will find it a welcome addition. ... Read more

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For more than a hundred million years, sea turtles have been swimming in the world's oceans. These magnificent, long-lived creatures spend their lives in the water, coming ashore to lay their eggs. Upon hatching, the baby turtles leave the nest and enter a dangerous world of storms and predators. The females will return to the same beach to lay their own eggs when they reach maturity a decade later. Today, there are seven species of sea turtle: the grass--eating green turtle; the sea sponge--eating hawksbill; the olive ridley; the Kemp's ridley, which is the smallest species; the loggerhead; the flatback of Australia; and the giant leatherback. Having escaped the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs, these ancient reptiles today face new dangers that threaten their survival: pollution, hunting, and the destruction of their nesting grounds. Will this century be the last to witness their majesty? Will succeeding generations live in a world devoid of their graceful presence?

Marine biologist James R. Spotila has spent much of his life unraveling the mysteries of these graceful creatures and working to ensure their survival. In Sea Turtles, he offers a comprehensive and compelling account of their history and life cycle based on the most recent scientific data -- and suggests what we can do now to save them. From the Kemp's ridley, which nests on a single beach on Mexico's Gulf Coast, to the nomadic leatherback, which can weigh up to a ton and is in the most imminent danger of extinction, Spotila offers a vivid description of their diets and mating habits, and the conservation efforts being made on their behalf. Illustrated with stunning color photographs by the world's leading nature photographers, Sea Turtles will inform and inspire readers of all ages everywhere.

Customer Reviews (24)

A great book!
Book with beautiful illustrations. Whith basic and general information very well explained. It's a good book to have!

A Great Gift Idea
I have purchased two copies as gifts for (college) students with an interest in Sea Turtle conservation.The book is authoritative and beautifully illustrated.It is the perfect gift for someone special.

Great book, no problems with the seller
I got the book promptly in the condition promised. I had absolutely no problems with the book or seller. Great seller! Thanks!

Wonderful Book!
I bought this book based on recommendations found in Amazon.com and was not disappointed.The book is full of beautiful photographs and clear and informative illustrations and is written for the general reader.I highly recommend if for anyone who has a love for sea turtles.

Complete, it is
This is a truly in-depth look at sea turtles. If you're not only interested in the "charisma" and some beautiful photography, but also ready to dive into all the other science-in-human-language aspects, make this a must read. ... Read more

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Explains why many of the world's seals are in danger of extinction and how the World Wildlife Fund is trying to save four species of seals. ... Read more

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Whales, dolphins, and porpoises have fascinated humankind for centuries. Amazingly diverse, they have evolved specializations that allow them, despite being air-breathing mammals, to exploit habitats ranging from surface waters to ocean depths. Whales and Dolphins of the World is a celebration of the variety (more than 80 species), behavior, and natural history of these remarkable animals. Stunningly illustrated by 180 color photographs, it describes what we know of their lives, including feeding, reproduction, communication, and social structures, and surveys the factors that affect them, from hunting to pollution. The book explores the strong relationship between our species and theirs, with a look at dolphin therapy and the pros and cons of whale-watching. It details the forces that threaten whales, dolphins, and porpoises, including hunting, whaling, fisheries, pollution, and habitat destruction, and also describes the conservation actions that must take place in the twenty-first century to save them. A color map of the world highlights the waters in which whales and dolphins are found.

Worldwide interest in these unique creatures is growing, as evidenced by the increasing number of people who go whale- and dolphin-watching each year. This book, with its informative, lively text and spectacular images, provides an illuminating look at the lives of whales and dolphins in a changing world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Whales and Dolphins
This book provides an excellent overview of cetaceans with a recurring focus on conservation. It is the best and most enjoyable book about cetaceans I have read. It also contains spectacular photos. ... Read more