Manatee Rescue

September 1, 2015

Gr 2-4-Manuela and her father spend much of their days catching fish on the Amazon. When they harpoon an adult manatee (a prized but illegal practice), Manuela and her father find a baby manatee beside their kill. Manuela's father plans to sell the calf, but Manuela, whose mother died when she was a baby, plans a rescue instead. With the help of her courageous cousin, her fearless grandmother, and eventually the entire community, Manuela mothers the manatee and educates the village so the animals are enjoyed not for their meat but for their beauty and gentility. Davies is a zoologist, whose knowledge comes through; she thoughtfully weaves information about the natural world into moments of action and bravery. This book is based on the true story of an orphaned manatee and the efforts of an organization (Natutama) to save the Amazonian creature. Davies includes many Native words with footnotes explaining their definitions. Wright's periodic, bold-line illustrations add an authentic folksy feel to the narrative. VERDICT This is a good addition to chapter book collections and will be valuable for understanding animal conservation, familiarizing students with Amazonian cultures, and encouraging grassroots activism for tenacious kids.-Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampa

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2015
In a remote Amazon village, Manuela and her cousin Libia convince an entire village to cease manatee fishing after the two girls rescue, nurture, and release a manatee calf Manuela accidentally speared while hunting its mother. Watching a manatee die and holding the injured calf she calls Airuwe in her arms is enough to turn Manuela from aspiring manatee hunter to conservationist, but it takes much longer for her to fulfill the silent promise she made to preserve the baby. Raising an orphaned mammal is difficult enough, but there are also threats from both the human and the natural world: the unsavory Clink-Clink, who wants to sell it, and powerful rainy-season floods. Luckily, the girls have the support of their grandmother, a nurse with veterinary experience, and, after an intensive campaign, the community. The third-person narration distances readers a bit, but it allows Davies to weave in details about Amazonian culture and setting as well as the endangered manatees while maintaining gentle suspense. Libia, limping and stunted from a childhood illness, proves skillful in a canoe, and both girls are imaginative and resourceful. Each short chapter includes a grayscale illustration done with brush and pen. Words potentially unfamiliar to general readers are defined in footnotes. Previously published in England as Manatee Baby (2013), this appealing animal-survival adventure is based on a true episode described in an afterword. (Fiction. 8-12)

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December 15, 2015
Grades 2-5 Manuela has always thought it would be exciting to successfully hunt and kill a manatee. But she changes her mind after she and her father, Silvio, go fishing along the Amazon and manage to harpoon a female manatee and capture her injured baby calf. In this compelling animal-rights adventure, Manuela takes pity on the orphaned manatee, and she and her cousin Libia spirit it away from Silvio before he can sell it. They find refuge with Granny Raffy, a nurse, and struggle to care for the baby manatee, now named Airuwe. But they face many dangers, including floods and a greedy local villager intent on buying Airuwe. Potentially unfamiliar words are defined in the footnotes, and the folk-art-inspired black-and-white drawings enhance the Amazonian setting and culture. Young readers will be inspired by this tale, which is based on a true story, and will identify with the characters' fight for animal conservation.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
Manuela fishes with her father on the Amazon River. When they harpoon a manatee, the girl becomes determined to save its calf and raise awareness of the gentle mammals' plight. The story's strong environmental message, engaging characters, rich setting, and warm illustrations make this short novel--based on a real-life incident--both informative and moving. Further information appended.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)