Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Hope for Winter: The True Story of A Remarkable Dolphin Friendship
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 6 to 9
Scholastic Inc., 2014 ISBN: 978-0545750370
One day a fisherman found a very young dolphin in a lagoon in Florida. The two-month old animal was dehydrated and close to death because she had been out of the water for too long. An animal rescue team came to the scene as quickly as they could and they decided that the only way they could save the little dolphin was to take her to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. They transported the dolphin 165 miles to Clearwater in a plastic pool full of water that was placed in the back of the van.
By the time they got to the aquarium a team of people were ready and waiting to help take care of the little dolphin. She was in critical condition, so a volunteer carried her as quickly as he could to a large tank and placed her in the water. After a few worrying minutes the dolphin calmed down enough so that the trainers could feed her special milk using a bottle. Finally she got the hydration and nutrition that she so badly needed.
The little dolphin, who was named Hope, got better and got to know the trainers at the aquarium. After a year and a half it was decided that she was ready to meet other dolphins. Dolphins are social creatures and they need companionship. There were two other dolphins are the aquarium, Panama and Winter, but the trainers could not be sure how the older dolphins would react to young Hope. Would they welcome her, or would they rebuff her?
In this wonderful book we read the true story of a little dolphin who was saved from death and who was given a new life at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Children will be moved by the narrative, which will show them the compassion that animals can have for one another. They will also see, through Hope’s story, that acceptance is a priceless gift that we can give to anyone who needs a friend.
At the back of the book readers will find further information about Hope and her friends, and they can learn about the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. There are also two pages of interesting “Dolphin Facts.”
