This long narrative has many words and few pictures. It would be most appropriate for 3-5th grades. It is an inspiring true story of a girl who gathers her town together to help thousands of whales. It is an appropriate text for students to think about how they can work for social/environmental change. It is also about teamwork and problem solving through engineering so it could be used within an engineering unit. Since there is much dialogue, it could also be used as a reader's theatre for upper elementary students. Since it also discusses many types of music to allure the whales, the students could listen and learn about those different types of music. ( )

In this book, Glashka, a young girl in a village in Alaska, uses her strong connection with the whales and their songs to help guide them out of being trapped by the ice. The whole village works together in efforts to set free the thousands of whales that are stuck by the ice, and even call in a Russian ice breaker to help break the ice to allow the whales to et back to the ocean. It is Glashka, though, that helps them find the song that is successful in guiding the whales out.
This story is a good example of historical fiction because while some piece of the story are made-up, other's are based off a real historical event. The actual event of freeing whales that were quickly becoming trapped did actually happen in the winter of 1984-1985.
Age Appropriateness: Intermediate
Media: oil on gessoed board

Based on the Chukchi Peninsula whale rescue of the winter of 1984-85, this book tells a beautiful story of perseverence. Young Glashka is blessed with the ability to hear the ancient melody of the whales. During her first time guiding the dog-sled, she encounters thousands of starving beluga whales trapped in the thick ice. Her family sends out for the Russian icebreaker and the people of her village must work together to keep the whales alive, comfort them and lead them to freedom. The dark oil painting illustrations are brushed with highlights that provide a touch of hopeful light.

Recommended for ages 7-11. ( )

Media: Oil paintings

Genre: This book is a good example of historical fiction because it gives an account of true events in the winter of 1984-85 when the whales got stuck in the Senyavina Strait of Siberia and how the villagers helped rescue them, it is just fiction because it was told in the perspective of a little girl who could hear the whales "sing".

Plot: This is essential to the story because it communicates to the reader the life Native Alaskan villagers lived and gave account of an historical event while using a little girl to tell the story. ( )

Genre: This is a good example of realistic fiction. This is because it is the story is a adaptation of a real story about a Russian tribe that helped save thousands of Baluga whales with the help of an icebreaking ship.

Stars: P.O.V. ( )