BABY WHALES DRINK MILK

The title epitomizes Esbensen's creative presentation of an important concept: how whales differ from the fish they seem to resemble and share characteristics with other mammals. Beginning with a direct comparison with humans, dogs, cats, etc., the author describes a humpback's care of her calf, working in other behaviors, more contrasts with fish and basic facts on mammals. Davis's blue-green underwater scenes are nicely varied with changes in light, points of view, and surroundings; his heavy, sculptural style is well suited to the massive whales, and though his land mammals seem stiff, a whale's eye in close-up shines with intelligence. A concluding spread of six species and a diver is the only key to relative sizes (oddly, the featured humpback isn't included). An excellent addition to the Let's-Read-and- Find-Out series. (Nonfiction/picture book. 3-8)