My Little Book of Manatees

My Little Book

by Hope Irvin Marston, Stephanie Mirocha (Illustrator), Angela A. Wix (Designed by)

My Little Book of Manatees is a delightful story about a new family of manatees. From the newborn manatee s first lessons in taking care of himself to the manatees playful adventures in warm spring waters, this beautifully illustrated book is ideal for introducing young children to the wonders of nature.

Genres: Animals

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Hope Irvin Marston was the founder of the Black River Valley Writers Club and the founder and director of the North Country Children's Writers and Illustrators Workshop. She has taught creative writing workshops at Jefferson Community College and the Jefferson-Lewis Teacher Center for many years. She has also been on staff at Christian Writers Conferences at Hephzibah Heights (MA), Montrose Bible Conference (PA), and a St. Davids Christian Writers Conference at Beaver Falls, Pa. Hope is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has beautiful illustrations and I was so excited to find it. However, what do you say to your little kids when the manatee is graphically injured by a speedboat slicing its back!?! Keep your agenda out of my kids books!

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book works on a number of levels. Very small children will enjoy the baby manatee's playful relationship with his mother. Five to six-year-olds will learn information about manatees as mammals. More mature readers can discuss what would have happened if the manatees had eaten the fish hooks or plastic can holders they found in the water or if the baby had not been able to get loose from the nylon fishing line that tangled around his fin and held him underwater. The book designer has done a wonderful job of marrying the text and pictures, sometimes setting the type in swirls or to demonstrate the words. It is small wonder that this was a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year finalist.

[Trish · Rating 1 out of 5]

In one word: No.
I was going to say”awkward” but that only covers one of my objections.

First: If the author’s goal was to make adults uncomfortable as they read to children, she achieved that by introducing unnecessary vocab describing the baby manatee nursing. I hate to repeat it, but parents should be forewarned: “thumb-sized nipples”?! (There is also mention of bull manatees catching up to the mother - and, next page, “A year later her new baby was born.”)

Second: If the author’s goal is to clearly depict humans as the one and only predator to manatees, you can check that off. Dangers include fish hooks and plastic can holders, fishing line, and eventually the violent blade of a speedboat motor. Kind of graphic for a picture book… It seemed there was an indictment buried in the mention of the manatees seeking warm water by the power plant, but they went there to warm up in winter so…

Third: If the author’s goal was to include as many off-the-wall descriptions in a book that is otherwise not silly … she did that too. “He looked like a giant sausage.” “Her huge teeth looked like crinkle-cut French fries.”

Other than that, it was alright. 😏 Not what I was expecting or desiring. Surely not “delightful” as the book jacket advertised.

The illustrations by Stephanie Mirocha deserve a much higher rating, so my apologies to Stephanie!