The little southern right whale was born under the shadow of the great harbour bridge.
Fluke by Lesley Gibbs and Michelle Dawson is a beautifully told story about the day a southern right whale gave birth to a calf in Sydney Harbour. Lesley Gibbs gentle storytelling skills alongside Michelle Dawson’s mesmerising illustrations make for a loving tale about a mother whale in search for her baby deep in the harbour.
This event was only the third one recorded in the last 200 years so it made a great impact on the locals who were able to watch the baby grow, become lost and then reunite with it’s mother.
Not only do we get to read this lovingly told tale, we are also able to learn more about Southern Right Whales through small facts on the front and back covers.
The story of Fluke brings to light the care that so many of us have towards living creatures when we see them in distress. It shows just how much many of us love the living world around us and marvel at the wonders it gives us everyday.
So how can we link this to sustainability?
- Learn more about whales – where they live, what they eat, how they move and any historical facts about human contact.
- Are whales endangered? There are many different whales – are all of them endangered and are they all endangered by the same things?
- How does our water usage effect these great mammals? Can you use water in a more sensible way so that it is not effecting the whales?
- Do you know of any other stories about animal conservation that have been created into picture books? There are a few on my blog — Can you create your own?
The hairy nosed wombats find a new home
- Is climate change or global warming effecting these mammals?
- How can you make sure you are making less of an impact on how whales live?
Try this:
Use less chemicals in the shower (Check the ingredients on your bottles)
Use less throw away plastic – it can end up in the oceans.
Walk instead of driving
Use less heating or cooling when you can add a jumper or open up some windows instead.
Eat at home or in a restaurant instead of getting take-away.
Make your own food instead of buying food in excess packaging.
