Twelve Daring Grays

Written by Nora Nickum · Illustrated by Elly MacKay

Gray whales risk a perilous detour for survival. Will they succeed?

4.4 Goodreads · 106 ratings

32 pages· ~580L

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

A dozen gray whales embark on a perilous 170-mile detour from their migration to the Arctic, seeking food in the Salish Sea. As they navigate shallow mudflats, the stakes are high—will their gamble pay off, or will they fail to reunite with their pod in the Bering and Chukchi Seas? This gripping tale of survival is brought to life with vivid artwork and a lyrical narrative, inviting readers to explore the fascinating world of these majestic creatures.

From the publisher

“A stunning and unforgettable journey.” –Kirkus Reviews (starred review)Follow a dozen brave gray whales in search of food as they take a high-risk, high-reward 170-mile detour off their already grueling migration route to the Arctic. In February, some twenty thousand gray whales set off from Baja California on a long, hard journey north, toward food and survival. Hungry and thin, they push on week after week, past California, Oregon, and Washington to the tip of that state, where twelve of them peel off and make an eastward turn into the Salish Sea. There they will wait in the deep for the tide to rise, only to swim into the dangerously shallow waters of a mudflat, hurriedly plowing the bottom for food before the water recedes once more. Will their daring be rewarded? Will they survive to join their fellow whales in the Bering and Chukchi Seas? Elly MacKay’s fluid, saturated artwork sets the stage for the whales’ exciting journey, complementing Nora Nickum’s lyrical, factual narrative. Back matter takes a deeper dive into the intriguing habits of gray whales and offers resources for curious readers.

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