Prince William (An Owlet Book) [Paperback]

Gloria Rand (Author), Ted Rand (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1994 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: An Owlet Book

In Prince William Sound, a little girl named Denny finds a baby seal covered with oil. How can she save its life?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The tragic effects of the Valdez oil spill on the creatures that inhabit Prince William Sound are embodied in one girl's efforts to save a baby seal drenched in oil. Denny and her mother take the pup, which she names Prince William, to the makeshift rescue center set up in the gym of a nearby school. A corps of volunteers revives the animal, but the veterinarian informs Denny that most are not so lucky: "I've seen it happen before--bears and their cubs, wolverines and eagles. You name it, they're all being poisoned by the spill." Gloria Rand's (the Salty Dog books) descriptive text escapes heavy moralizing by focusing on the seal's progress and on the community's intensive volunteer activities. Though she avoids any mention of this event's political ramifications, a powerful message is adroitly conveyed without laying blame. Ted Rand ( Night Tree ; Barn Dance! ) paints a title character to melt the hearts of all; the oversize images in his vibrant paintings capture, as always, the sweep of the outdoors and the humanity of the spirit. Ages 6-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-- After a tanker accident occurs near her home on Prince William Sound, Denny discovers an oil-covered, newborn seal on a polluted beach. The baby is rushed to a busy animal rescue center, where dedicated veterinarians and volunteers care for the wildlife affected by the disaster. The girl names the seal Prince William and follows his recovery over the next ten weeks. Progress is made on the beaches too, as cleanup efforts begin in earnest. Finally, Denny is present as the seal is flown to Halibut Cove and released into clean water. This straightforward story stresses the importance of community involvement, as volunteers work together to repair the damage done; one particulary effective spread shows the harbor crowded with boats and planes, all carrying people ``who had come to help clean up the spill.'' In a time when young people are encouraged to become environmentally active, Denny proves that one child can make a difference. Vibrant watercolors capture both the horror of the puddinglike oil and the beauty of the unscathed northern landscape, and readers are left with the image of a bright-eyed and trusting Prince William. Pair this with Terry Carr's Spill! The Story of the Exxon Valdez (Watts, 1991). --Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library Journal
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (March 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080503384X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805033847
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 8.9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #225,151 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Environment
  • #98 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Marine Life > Fiction

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for a science lesson, December 1, 1999

By 

Anmarie Byrnes (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prince William (An Owlet Book) (Paperback)

Just read this to my third graders during a lesson on the beach habitat and the effect of an oil spill. I had the students brainstorm on what they would do to clean up a spill and then read them the book to see if it matched our predictions. They loved the cute seal too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Janet Townsend, A Librarian, September 9, 2005

By 

Janet Townsend "Janet Townsend, a Librarian" (Hayward, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prince William (An Owlet Book) (Paperback)

Following an oil spill in Prince William Sound, a girl named Denny explores the beach and finds a young seal pup covered in oil. She struggles to pick him up out of the muck and carries him home to her mother, who has been calling volunteers to help clean up shore birds caught in the disaster. Denny's mother notices that the seal pup is very ill, so she and Denny head to a rescue center set up in a school gym. As the story progresses it becomes clear how huge an effort is needed in order to clean up an environment polluted by an oil spill. Hundreds of volunteers are needed, as well as veterinarians, airplane pilots, and environmental workers, among others. These and other workers are depicted in this story, as well as the Alaskan landscape, and the story remains interesting throughout. The illustrations are well done, and everyone will fall in love with Prince William (the seal pup) when they look into his eyes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ !, June 29, 2010

By 

Lynette Edwards (White Plains, N Y USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prince William (An Owlet Book) (Paperback)

I read this book years ago, and have revisited it to link it to our most recent environmental disaster-the B.P. oil leak.

It has been well received by K-5th grade readers who are inundated with this life altering environmental disaster through media and those who are are experiencing it firsthand. The message that one person can make a difference and when united as a community actively working together is hopeful to all. I highly recommend this book to people of all ages...a must read!