The Whale Savers: Returning Wera to the Ocean

Description

A small boy and his Nan discover a whale (Wera) on their local beach and call on their community, who help comfort and refloat the whale at high tide. This is an emotive tale that teaches children about the importance of cooperation and support, and a respect for nature. Everyone helps to return Wera, from 80-year-old Nan and her 8-year-old grandson Tama, to Sally from the Department of Conservation and the workers at the cheese factory. Project Jonah reports that hundreds of whales and dolphins strand on New Zealand shores each year. In Bruce Potter's dramatic and realistic illustrations this story comes to life. It is based on research into New Zealand whale strandings and rescues, and the final spread highlights the work of Project Jonah and lists the actions that Tama and his Nan took to save their whale.

Linda Roberts has run a professional copywriting business and helped start a local magazine, Wine Hawkes Bay, which she edited for four years. She lives in a small coastal village in Hawkes Bay and currently works full-time, juggling her writing around the demands of a young family. Bruce Potter is an international award-winning illustrator of over 100 children's books. His Whale Rider (illustrated edition) has been translated into many languages. Bruce has a background in cartooning and caricature for a number of newspapers around the world and he produced realistic illustrations and caricatures for New Zealand Hall of Fame with Maria Gill. The Last of Maui's Dolphins is his latest picture book with Maria Gill, published by New Holland.