A Whale of a Tale! All About Porpoises, Dolphins, and Whales

The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library

by Bonnie Worth, Aristides Ruiz (Illustrator)

Onboard a vessel that would make Jacques Cousteau green with envy, the Cat and Co. take to the high seas in search of whales, dolphins, and porpoises—those aquatic mammals known as cetaceans. While learning how cetaceans stay warm without hair, have teeth or baleen, swim in troops, spyhop, spin, breach, and see via ecolocation, kids are introduced to almost 20 different species—including sperm, right, humpback, and blue whales; Gulf, spectacled, and finless porpoise; and boto, common, hourglass, and bottlenose dolphins. A shipshape selection for summer reading!

“The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library shows young readers that books can be entertaining and educational at the same time. This is a wonderful series!” —Barbara Kiefer, Ph.D., Charlotte S. Huck Professor of Children’s Literature, Ohio State University

Genres: Science, Childrens, Picture Books, Animals, Nonfiction, Realistic Fiction, Biology

48 pages, Hardcover

First published May 23, 2006

About the author

BONNIE WORTH is the author of countless books for young readers, among them the Cat in the Hat Learning Library books If I Ran the Rain Forest, HarK! A Shark!, Oh Say Can You Seed? (winner of the 2003 Ohio Farm Bureau Award), Wish for a Fish, Oh Say Can You Say Di-No-Saur?, Would You Rather Be a Pollywog?, Ice Is Nice!, and Safari, So Good!

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly well done book that teaches kids about the stuff that makes cetaceans nifty animals. All kinds of dolphin, porpoise, and whale species were featured, and the rhyming text was only awkward in places. All in all, though, quite well done! And by the end of the story my nephew was able to distinguish dolphins from "porkuses." We'll work on that word.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

learned so much!

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dr. Suess book (written by another author true) about whales, dophins, and porpoises is absolutely brilliant. And it rhymes!!! I found this book while strolling through a gift shop at Sea World. When I saw it, I knew I had to immediately have it, since this group of animals are my favorites. This short book does a great job of providing a ton of information about these animals. The illustrations are typical Dr. Suess - goofy, funny, and filled with eye-catching colors. Also throughout the book, are illustrations of all the different animals with their names. I am thoroughly amazed about how much information is contained in this small book. Young kids, and older children-at-heart, will love this book.

[BLT Fraser]

Received Christmas 2023. Grandmama read this to us on 14 Feb 2024.

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase A Whale of a Tale! here for just $5!

Books from the Dr. Seuss library never disappoint, and this one is no exception. Easy and fun to read, this one playfully introduces beginner readers to the wonderful world of cetaceans with tons of facts about whales, porpoises and dolphins. The rhymes are terrific and the illustrations are beautiful. Kids will love it.

Paul - The Book Grocer

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

According to this site there are thirty three books in the Cat in the Hat Learning Library, this now is book fourteen that I have read and six of them by Bonnie Worth (the others by Tish Rabe)
Well this one takes us back to the sea and is all about what the title suggests, no tests here just basic learning in a good stylistic manner.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Whale of a Tale!: All About Porpoises, Dolphins, and Whales" (The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library) by Bonnie Worth, Joe Mathieu (Illustrator), Aristides Ruiz (Illustrator)
****
Delightful book, catchy rhythm of the text, gorgeous accurate illustrations, very informative. Excellent resource

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Take a ride on Captain McElligot's Cetacean Station with The Cat in the Hat, and learn and explore all about the many types of whales, and their smaller relations. This book is as informative as Chapter 32 of Moby Dick on Cetology, but on a lower reading level.

[Cruse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent educational book about the different types of porpoises, dolphins and whales. It gives comparisons to fish, explains their feeding habits. The book contains a glossary, index and bibliography so it would also be great to teach book parts and how to use them.

[رضوى أحمد عيد · Rating 4 out of 5]

قصة جميلة ومفيدة للأطفال والكبار بتعرفنا على بعض الكائنات البحرية زي الحيتان والدلافين وبتشرحلنا الفروق بينهم..تستحق القراءة 👍

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[Jennifer Dell · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lot of great, accurate facts about whales dolphins and porpoises but still has the traditional dr. seuss tongue twisting words in it that make it cumbersome to read.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

An educational, colorful book to use to teach about dolphins and whales.

[Allie Reitzell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has difficult words, but would interest a student who likes ocean life. There a tons of facts in this book.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I like whales. I also enjoyed this book because this book was about whales.

[Laura McLoughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of useful information about porpoises, dolphins, and whales. Kids will enjoy it and I even learned a few new things.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not Dr. Seuss, and the meter is frequently abused, but there are some fun facts and drawings in this work of nonfiction for preschoolers. Favorite fact, which may just scar my son when the other kids in the schoolyard don't believe him: a killer whale is not really a whale, but rather a toothed dolphin.

[Jelisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this story would be great to read when discussing animals and their habitats. This story takes place at sea and I think that many students love dolphins so learning about the human-like mammals would be interesting and engaging for the children.

[Aleya Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful rhyming book that has a vast amount of facts about whales, porpoises, and dolphins. The book follows the Dr. Seuss style of writing quite well and is a lovely addition to the collection.

[Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find Dr Suess to be a little like Marmite. Sometimes I even like it! Children seem to love the silliness. This (non) Dr Suess series can be tedious to but there's no denying the fact that I, as the adult, learn lots too. Hence my four star instead of three.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a rare and fun find---Dr. Seuss non-fiction! As title indicates this book is about porpoises, dolphins and whales and includes fun illustrations with facts in an easy reader format.

[Myron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for little kids interested in whales. My daughter loves it.

[Madkropotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son's reading material for tonight. I think it might have been a little difficult for him, but he gave it a very good shot.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Come hear a "whale of a tale" about the difference between dolphins, porpoises, and whales told in a rhyme.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

rhymed and taught about the animals. It was great!

[Lindsey Lubker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Whale of a Tale is an informational book about whales porpoises and dolphins. It discusses these sea creatures habits, sizes, food they eat, and more.

[Shifa Shahid · Rating 5 out of 5]

hi guys!!! my name is Shifa i am new here! i like this book thank you Bonnie worth for making this book!!

[Keleigh]

I like this one because it compares animals and the way they do things. This is informational but inviting for children because of the illustrations being cartoon like.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much better than an educational Seuss style book.

[Caroline Hancock]

This is a great story that would spark the interests of sea lovers. It discusses many of the different sea creatures and teaches about their habitat.