Books published by publisher Whale Press Books

A Read-Out-Loud Book to Delight and Teach Good MannersLevel One I Can Read book. Rhoda the Alligator is the debut read-out-loud children’s book by former U.S. Senator (Florida) Bob Graham. The book tells the story of Rhoda, a uniquely colored alligator who is trying to find her place in the wild world of the Florida Everglades National Park. Filled with beautiful illustrations, Rhoda the Alligator teaches pre-school and kindergarten children about the beauty of our differences and the hurt that bullying can inflict.Teach your 4-6 year-old the importance of diversity and the environment. Rhoda is born with a distinct color unlike any other alligator in the Everglades. She is blue and orange, shining with colors. Rhoda’s parents celebrate her brightness. However, when Rhoda meets the other young gators in the Everglades she is bullied because of her appearance. Using powerful lessons from her environment, Rhoda is able to overcome the hurt and hardship, embrace her true colors, and educate and transform her bullies.Rhoda the Alligator teaches your child the importance of self-love, respect and friendship. And, this read-out-loud book highlights the beauty of our national parks and what makes them so important. Rhoda’s experiences will help children:Feel confident in their own skinRespect those who are differentCherish our national parksIf you and your child have read books such as Strictly No Elephants, Seeds and Trees, Be Kind, Stick and Stone, May I Please Have a Cookie, or Zack’s Alligator; you will love Bob Graham’s Rhoda the Alligator.

An award winner from the time it left the pen, this is the first book in the Sienna, the Cowgirl Fairy chapter book series. Sienna is not your normal cowgirl. She’s half human and half fairy! But Sienna wants nothing to do with fairies. When her ma sends her to fairy camp instead of cowgirl camp, she ain’t none too happy. Not only must she deal with cliquish fairies who reject her spunky spirit and outspoken ways, she must also noodle out how to help Mother Nature end the Texas drought. Can Sienna balance cowgirling with some tried ’n’ true fairy skills to both fit in and make it rain?This is a book about perseverance, friendship, and teamwork. In addition to being delightfully entertaining, this book may help children learn tolerance with the message that people who appear to be different from you can be very much like you. It may also help children who are struggling with identity or self-acceptance. A fun book for children with interest in cowgirls, fairies, magic, horses, rainmaking, or Texas.

"A moving, affectionate, and joyful tale, all the more so for being true." - Kirkus Reviews"An Old Man and His Penguin holds a number of important messages about human/animal relationships, love, oil slicks and their impact on sea life, and loneliness. . . . its underlying focus on letting go and reaping rewards from non-possessiveness offers an outstanding lesson about love for the very young." -- D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book ReviewOff the coast of Brazil, João rescues a lifeless, oil-covered penguin (Dindim) and nurses him back to health. Dindim adopts João as an honorary penguin, and the steadfast friends do everything together. They swim together, fish together, and stroll the beach together. But there are real penguins somewhere across the sea. So one day, Dindim leaves João. The villagers tell João the penguin will never come back. João cannot say if he will or will not. Are the villagers right? Will Dindim ever patter into his old friend's loving arms again?"Adults looking for an inviting animal story with an important message will welcome this appealingly different seaside tale." -- D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review"The underlying lesson about compassion and good stewardship is subtle but effective; an author's note explains the real-life circumstances. Reardon, who also illustrated the penguin-themed Noodles' & Albie's Birthday Surprise (2016), deftly captures the story's charm and expressiveness. ." - Kirkus Reviews

From Connor McDavid in Edmonton to Auston Matthews in Toronto, the hottest young hockey players are already tearing up the ice. With their amazing skill and unique playing styles, these stars are bringing new life to the sport and some of its most famous teams, and they re only just getting started. Hockey s New Wave gives readers a front-row seat to this transition from one generation to the next, with pages full of information about these players, where they came from, and what makes them stand out. Engaging text, fact boxes, and action photographs bring readers close to the action and will prepare you to cheer on the biggest sports stars for years to come.

Fall Saturdays on a college campus mean one thing: football. From the raucous student sections to the marching bands to the thrilling play on the field, college football is a spectacle unlike anything else. Take a front-row seat to everything that makes college football great in College Football Season Ticket: The Ultimate Fan Guide. Season Ticket uses engaging and informative storytelling to take readers into the past, present, and future of your favorite sports leagues. With chapters exploring historic moments, game-changing figures, today s most exciting superstars, and other league dynamics, Season Ticket is your all access pass to sports!

A holdover from the rival ABA, the San Antonio Spurs survived the merger and thrived in their first decade in the NBA. But it took the arrival of two elite post players and a savvy head coach to make them champions. From the pioneers of the 1970s to the global superstars of today, get to know the players who made the Spurs one of the NBAs top teams through the years.

"Readers who choose the book anticipating a dose of magical encounters will not be disappointed, while those who like interpersonal relationships, intrigue, and growth as subplots in their stories will find Misadventures of a Magician's Son holds an action-packed touch of all three to keep readers guessing about Alex's future and incredible adventure, right up to the end." --D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book ReviewTwelve-year-old Alex was taught illusion by the best. Misadventures of a Magician’s Son tells the story of Alexander Finn’s personal journey dealing with the death of his father, a celebrated magician, and the extraordinary gift he left behind. Uprooted from his childhood home for the seemingly hokey town of Orchard, Maine, Alex refuses to unpack and wants nothing to do with his new surroundings. But when he discovers an unusual deck of animated cards tucked in the back of his father’s old desk, things begin to unravel and Alex’s true adventure begins.

"A heartfelt, somber story skillfully infused with magic and adventure."-Kirkus Reviews"Readers who choose the book anticipating a dose of magical encounters will not be disappointed, while those who like interpersonal relationships, intrigue, and growth as subplots in their stories will find Misadventures of a Magician's Son holds an action-packed touch of all three to keep readers guessing about Alex's future and incredible adventure, right up to the end." -D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book ReviewTwelve-year-old Alex was taught illusion by the best. Misadventures of a Magician's Son tells the story of Alexander Finn's personal journey dealing with the death of his father, a celebrated magician, and the extraordinary gift he left behind. Uprooted from his childhood home for the seemingly hokey town of Orchard, Maine, Alex refuses to unpack and wants nothing to do with his new surroundings. But when he discovers an unusual deck of animated cards tucked in the back of his father's old desk, things begin to unravel and Alex's true adventure begins.

"The ingenious aquatic tale also encourages readers to realize they can find friendship even if they don’t see eye to eye with their cohorts." --Kirkus Reviews (a starred review)Randall, the pistol shrimp, is a master at excavation. Randall, the goby fish, is his skittish, yet happy-go-lucky watchman. The problem is that both have quirks that drive each other bananas until one day their relationship is driven to the breaking point. This very funny informational-fiction story about one of the sea's naturally-existent odd couples illustrates how certain species depend upon their symbiotic relationship for survival. It also shows children how two very different beings can embrace each other's peculiarities and become best of friends.Foreword written by Dr. John E. Randall, senior ichthyologist emeritus, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii."Based on a real-life symbiotic relationship, this silly tale makes the science approachable through the goby's giggle-worthy antics. Notes from ichthyologist Dr. John Randall describe the phenomenon for adults, and Gortman's closing illustrations supply diagrams of the charismatic creatures. The picture book's cartoonish interior images deftly mix human and animal characteristics . . . Poper's simple English text seamlessly introduces a few straightforward Spanish-language phrases due to the coastal Mexico setting. The ingenious aquatic tale also encourages readers to realize they can find friendship even if they don’t see eye to eye with their cohorts." --Kirkus Reviews