Customer Reviews

Astro: The Steller Sea Lion

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
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A young sea lion cautiously peered through the grate of a pink dog crate secured into the back of a pickup. Pacific waves gently lapped the rocky shores of the California coast. Gulls flew overhead as a pelican closely watched as the truck began its journey to The Marine Mammal Center. Astro, an orphaned Steller sea lion who weighed a mere 39 pounds, would soon find himself nestled into a new volunteer human family. Droplets of his "special smoothie made from ground herring, salmon oil, and whipping cream," from the nipple of a baby bottle dribbled from his mouth. His friends nurtured Astro until it was time to head back into the wild with other Steller sea lions in the ocean seas.

A crew from the Center gathered at the shore to release him, but before he left his crate "a satellite tag was attached to Astro's back so The Marine Mammal Center would be able to track his travels in the ocean." Back on the very beach he was found the waves embraced his body, but frightened of the unknown he soon discovered that ocean waves were not to his liking. Not one iota. Astro made friends with some elephant seals, but would not venture back into the sea. Back to the center he went. They tried releasing him with eight seal pals from the Center, but no go. He hung on for dear life until gravity drew him into the sea. Ten days later guess what Astro did? He showed up on a beach near The Marine Mammal Center. How could they ever get him to go back to the sea where he belonged? Was he going to keep coming back to the Center? How could they break his attachment to people?

This is an amazing story of a young Stellar sea lion, Astro, who much preferred his summer nights in Sausalito instead of surfing the ocean waves. I was simply fascinated by Astro's story, who quickly brought to mind André the seal who was a denizen of the East coast. The highly realistic photo-like artwork was tremendously appealing. Many people do know that Astro now resides in Mystic Connecticut and would love for you to visit him. In the back of this book, which can be used in the homeschool or classroom setting, includes additional information about the species, a section concerning their threatened and endangered status, a map activity, life cycle information, a section describing how to differentiate between a sea lion and a seal, and access to additional web sites through the publisher's web site. I couldn't resist listening to Sausalito Summernight as I read about this little guy, a cutie you are definitely going to fall in love with!

I first must confess that I'm a HUGE fan of Astro. I volunteered at TMMC when Astro was there. As is protocol, we are not to talk amongst ourselves (other volunteers) when we tend to the animals. Usually they run from us (which is what we wanted), EXCEPT ASTRO. Soon after he became healthy enough to be aware of what was going on...sort of, he became VERY interested in what we were doing. Usually the animals have a fear of people, not Asrto. (We think he actually had "favorites!!") We had to pay EXTRA care not to be joking around, nor entertaining AT ALL while in his pen. Clean his pen, try to feed him and leave. Eventually, he gained enough weight and WAS eating fish on his own. The release team attempted to do the BIG JOB, release him... and the rest is history.

My entire family, on the East Coast, followed my stories of him and they are getting THIS book (with a picture of me feeding him) for Christmas!

This is a spectacular TRUE story of people LOVING animals and doing everything possible to make a good life for them. Thank you Marine Mammal Center for giving me the opportunity to work with these animals.

Wonderful book with beautiful pictures that is filled with interesting facts as well as an enchanting story. Fun for children and adults. My six year old granddaughters love the story of Astro's adventures and ask a lot of questions about his present life.

Jeanne Walker Harvey has written an amazing true story about a special sea lion that was stranded as a pup and later rehabilitated at the Marine Mammal Center. What's so incredible about the story line of the main character Astro, is that upon his release into the sea, he would keep coming back. Would Astro be able to return to the wild? Indeed, curious minds want to know.

Not only is this a great educational book but a fun one for home schools, animal lovers, and for all ages who care about endangered and threatened species. Once you hear about Astro's story, I guarantee that you and your family will fall in love with Astro and his "stellar" life.

From all the details of the rehabilitating steps that have begun at Santa Cruz to more information gathered and shared at the Mystic Aquarium regarding how he was moved to Connecticut, you will want to purchase this wonderful picture book. Towards the back of the book it looks like a Junior National Geographic section on Stellar Sea Lion facts of their life cycle and the difference between a sea lion and a seal.

In addition to the author presenting well researched information and a passionate heart toward one sea lion's rescue, you'll find the real life illustrations by Shennen Bersani complimenting the text warmly. A real page turner book leading the young reader on to learn more!

Guiding children through education and discovering their environment about nature and marine animals, I believe you will find it here in this wonderful 5* picture book and I highly recommend this one to you. You'll find teaching activities, interactive quizzes available, plus Spanish text and so much more.

Thank you Jeanne for introducing Astro to our family. We rejoice with many who have learned that this very lucky sea lion is safe and he is home. We LOVE his story and wish you much continued success!

Steller Sea Lions are a threatened species that live in the northern Pacific. Stellar means outstanding, immense or a star performer. Astro fits both of these definitions, so he's actually a stellar Steller sea lion! This is a very real story about a sea lion rescue that has been beautifully illustrated and adapted into a picture book.

A scientist found young Astro, separated from his mother, on an island off the coast of California. He was much too young (he still had part of his umbilical cord attached) to survive alone, so he became a pampered guest at The Marine Mammal Center. There he was nursed back to health, literally, fed from a baby bottle filled with a herring/salmon oil/whipped cream smoothie. I know, blech, but not for a sea lion.

When Astro reached ten months of age, he was returned to the ocean. Unfortunately, nobody asked Astro's thoughts about this plan. After each release, of which there were several, he doggedly managed to find his way back to the Center. His friends there were terribly sad when they realized he had been rescued too young and had grown attached to humans. Because Astro would be unable to adapt to the wild, a permanent home was found for him at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.

The illustrations in this book are so very realistic that I had to study them quite closely before I was sure they really were drawings and not photographs. I know that seems dim-witted, but they really are that good. This is a wonderful story of how humans go the distance to help animals and ensure they are (or in this case, are not) able to survive on their own after human intervention. The last four pages of the book comprise an educational section with great technical information on Steller Sea Lions, including maps and a life cycle. I like that this an interesting story that is wrapped up with some useful methods of teaching children more about this species - very useful!

So right up front I have to say that the reason I even picked up Astro: The Steller Sea Lion (Steller is a kind of sea lion) is because I am in love with Shennen Bersani's art. She has illustrated many children's books and I confess, I seek out her work because it is bright and engaging and real.

That being said, I also love the story that Bersani's true-to-life drawings capture. Astro is a few days old when he is found hungry and alone on a California island. He's taken to The Marine Mammal Center, where he is loved and cared for. When he is big and well enough his caretakers attempt to return him to the ocean.

But Astro wants to stay with them. They try again and again but Astro is determined.

The best part of this story? It's all true. Astro, the real stellar sea lion lives at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.

This is an ideal book for young children not only because it shows in pictures and words the power of research and medical intervention but also the power of love.

A colorful appendix gives kids information about the life cycle of the Steller sea lion and shows how to tell the difference between a sea lion and a seal.

An excellent book all around!!

Astro's story is heartwarming and the illustrations are fabulous. The story helps us to understand why his life events turned out as it did, and yet it is neither boring nor drawn out. The story is captivating, emotions shine through both words and pictures, and the young reader will not realize they are learning while reading (parents will like it too!). Making this book even more special is the extra information provided about sea lions in the back of the book with fun activities that include a great map. Reflecting back up on my daughter's reactions to books when she was age 5-8, she would have eaten this one up. It is a story the child will want to re-read over and over again, keep on their bookshelf forever, and those interested in activities or learning will enjoy the extras packaged within it.

Books like Astro the Steller Sea Lion are important to a child's moral formation. The people in the story deal with difficult issues of how to best help Astro. As the entire book is focused on providing loving care as best possible to God's creation, it shows children how they can do the same and helps them develop empathy for others. They learn to see their role in the world as caretaker, through which they innately connect with the sacred around them.

"Love's greatest gift is its ability to make everything it touches sacred. " (Barbara De Angelis)

From that perspective, it is a timely choice for summer reading and road trips too; one the entire family can enjoy! Highly recommended for the entire family by Litland.com :>)