"You are a narwhal --
shy,
swift,
small (for a whale).
Scientists call you unicorn of the Arctic ... "
I am ever astounded by the depth of research Candace Fleming does; her shrewd storytelling that brings to life those animals that spark an interest in her; and the way she engages readers in wanting to learn more.
Using a present tense second person voice for this book, she places her young readers smack dab in the middle of the ocean depths that are home to the narwhal. The young narwhal is known for its shyness, its size, and its ability to move very quickly. Oh, and for its tusk, of course.
" ... a single
twisting
rod of ivory
that sprouts from your upper left jaw.
It began growing where you were a year-old calf.
Now, nine years later, you are full grown,
and so is your tusk.
Through poetic, informative text, readers learn about migration (both summer and winter), the narwhal's pod, predators, finding food, the occasional tangle with another male member of the pod where the tusk is used as a weapon, and some of the hazards they face on their long journeys. Males are the ones with the tusks, only a few females sport them. Needing to breathe air from above, they are always on the lookout for leads (cracks in the ice).
The atmospheric digital art created by debut illustrator, Deena So'oteh, is filled with the wonder of the Arctic landscapes and its ocean depths. Filled with both light and darkness, they allow readers a real feel for the life the narwhals lead. As hunger gets the better of this sleeping narwhal, a gatefold requires a turn to vertical for readers to feel the depth of the dive made for food. In the darkness there, echolocation is used to find the food required to satisfy that hunger.
Avoiding orcas and polar bears keeps the narwhal busy as they answer the yearly call of two migrations. There are moments of terror as they are suddenly trapped under the ice in a freak storm and must find a way to break through that icy surface, or swim to shallow waters in hopes of being undetected by five orcas passing too close to where they are.
Although, at present, narwhals are not yet endangered or of concern for the International Union for Ccnservation of Nature, the threat that climate change poses in the Arctic habitat may affect their future.
What an adventure in learning this is!
I do love this quote from Ms. Fleming as she discusses some of what her research taught her, and why what she includes in back matter holds such importance for her work.
Heck, yeah, collapsible ribs! I also love that the tusk is filled with sea lice, and that its purpose remains a mystery. The tusk is obviously not for protection since only males (for the most part) grow them. So, is to look sexy for the lady narwhals? Is it a thermometer? Does it measure salinity? One of the things that really ramps up my curiosity is the fact that we share our world with so many creatures – 170,00 in the case of narwhals – and we still know very little about them. Don’t you find that amazing? I can hardly wrap my head around it. As for what’s in my backmatter… As a nonfiction writer, my job first and foremost is to tell a dramatic, compelling and true story. If I can weave facts into the narrative without interrupting the flow of my telling (and I try my darndest) then I will. But if a fact feels forced, or I can’t wedge it in, I save it for backmatter.
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