Status
Check shelf
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
HMH Books for Young Readers (2009), Edition: 1, 80 pages
Description
John Craighead George is an Arctic whale scientist studying bowhead whales in Barrow, Alaska. He conducts his research in harmony with the cultural traditions of the Iñupiaq Eskimos, natives to the area, who have been hunting these whales for more than two thousand years.
Local notes
1703-105
User reviews
LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
Following a year in the life of John Craighead George (son of children's author Jean), this book describes the Inupiat process of hunting and harvesting bowhead whales and how scientists piggyback on their hunts to study the whales. It provides an interesting look into a place and people that kids
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might not know much about. It combines well-researched information with great photos to bring another scientist to life for tweens - just what we've come to expect from the Scientists in the Field series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Michelle_Bales
This is the story of a year in the life of John Craighead George (Craig), a whale scientist who lives in Barrow, Alaska among the Inupiaq Eskimo people. The Inupiat are an indigenous people who are allowed by law to hunt bowhead whales as they have for thousands of years. Author Peter Lourie
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details how Craig has over the years earned the respect and trust of the Inupiat so that he may live among them and gather important data on the whales they catch before they divide them up and use them. One almost feels as though one has been to Barrow and seen the whales after viewing the very informative and well integrated photographs. In a science classroom, this book would be helpful in getting students to understand the sacrifices some scientists make in order to follow their passion (i.e. living in a remote and isolated region), how scientists must work hard to earn the trust of different peoples, how scientists can learn much from indigenous people, as well as information about the life cycles and behaviors of bowhead whales. Show Less
LibraryThing member Mwbordel
Whaling Season follows Craig George, an Arctic whale scientist, in Barrow, Alaska. Craig and his colleagues have a partnership with the Native Inupiaq Eskimos to study the Bowhead whales. Craig is conducting his research to find about the whales behavior, size, age, and migration patterns. To do
There are two seasons for whaling. There is a spring and a fall season. The Inupiaq rely on the Bowhead whale for survival. Every year they have midwinter dance festival to give thanks for the whales. It takes a team of Inupiaq to hoist the whale out of the water. Harvesting a whale can take 12 hours. Once a whale has been captured and harvested, the Inupiaq divide the meat and blubber among the community.
The Bowhead is unique in that it can survive in the Arctic climate year round. This is because of the "bow" like shape of its head that can break through ice. The Bowhead population was in danger because of commercial whaling. As a result, the International Whaling Community limited the Inupiaq to 51 whales a year.
The author, Peter Lourie, has published several non-fiction books. While writing this book, he made four trips to the Arctic. He is also a photographer and provided all of the photographs in the book.
There is no table of content for this book, nor are the chapters numbered. The book begins with an "Author's Note" to inform the reader about the Inupiaq Eskimos and how the people group will be identified throughout the book. Every page has pictures accompanied by a caption exampling what is happening in the picture. There is a glossary of terms relating to whales, scientific methods, and whaling. There is also a glossary of Inupiaq terms used throughout the book. The author provides book and websites for further reading. There is also an index.
The book is written partially chronologically beginning with the spring whaling season and ending with the winter season of darkness in Alaska. The year of whaling chapters are broken up by chapters talking about Craig becoming a scientist, the lab, Craig speaking to a local science class, what he does for fun, etc. There is also general information about whaling and the Bowhead whale.
I personally did not enjoy this book very much. I was bored at parts and kept putting the book down. While the book was very informative about the Bowhead whale, I would have liked to learn more about what the Inupiag do once the whale is harvested, how they divide the whale up, how they store it, what they do with the other parts of the whale, etc. Also, I did not feel like the author took us through the scientific method or can to a conclusion. This could be because research is still being conducted. The pictures were a little graphic which I would definitely take into account when picking the audience for this book.
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this, Craig and his team take measurements and samples of the whales organs and blood. There are two seasons for whaling. There is a spring and a fall season. The Inupiaq rely on the Bowhead whale for survival. Every year they have midwinter dance festival to give thanks for the whales. It takes a team of Inupiaq to hoist the whale out of the water. Harvesting a whale can take 12 hours. Once a whale has been captured and harvested, the Inupiaq divide the meat and blubber among the community.
The Bowhead is unique in that it can survive in the Arctic climate year round. This is because of the "bow" like shape of its head that can break through ice. The Bowhead population was in danger because of commercial whaling. As a result, the International Whaling Community limited the Inupiaq to 51 whales a year.
The author, Peter Lourie, has published several non-fiction books. While writing this book, he made four trips to the Arctic. He is also a photographer and provided all of the photographs in the book.
There is no table of content for this book, nor are the chapters numbered. The book begins with an "Author's Note" to inform the reader about the Inupiaq Eskimos and how the people group will be identified throughout the book. Every page has pictures accompanied by a caption exampling what is happening in the picture. There is a glossary of terms relating to whales, scientific methods, and whaling. There is also a glossary of Inupiaq terms used throughout the book. The author provides book and websites for further reading. There is also an index.
The book is written partially chronologically beginning with the spring whaling season and ending with the winter season of darkness in Alaska. The year of whaling chapters are broken up by chapters talking about Craig becoming a scientist, the lab, Craig speaking to a local science class, what he does for fun, etc. There is also general information about whaling and the Bowhead whale.
I personally did not enjoy this book very much. I was bored at parts and kept putting the book down. While the book was very informative about the Bowhead whale, I would have liked to learn more about what the Inupiag do once the whale is harvested, how they divide the whale up, how they store it, what they do with the other parts of the whale, etc. Also, I did not feel like the author took us through the scientific method or can to a conclusion. This could be because research is still being conducted. The pictures were a little graphic which I would definitely take into account when picking the audience for this book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Remy_Ferrell
Whaling Season is a book that can be described as a day in the life of a whaler. The book gives informative descriptions of life in a small town in Alaska as whalers get ready to hunt whales. Most people will find this book very interesting but for those who are sensitive to whale hunting, this
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book may not be for you. Show Less
Awards
Riverby Awards (Winner — 2010)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009-11-23
Physical description
80 p.; 11 inches
ISBN
0544582411 / 9780544582415
UPC
046442777094
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Lexile
L