Whale Fall

By Melissa Stewart, Rob Dunlavey (Illustrator)

A whale's end sparks life in the deep sea, feeding a hidden world below.

4.4/5 Goodreads · 437 ratings

34 pages

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

When a whale's life ends, its body descends into the ocean's depths, igniting a new beginning for deep-sea creatures. Hungry hagfish, prowling sleeper sharks, and zombie worms feast on this energy-rich bounty. Over decades, the whale's remains sustain a hidden ecosystem, revealing the intricate dance of life and death beneath the waves. Discover the captivating journey of a whale fall and the vibrant community it supports in the ocean's darkest corners.

From the publisher

This fascinating nonfiction picture book filled with stunning illustrations details the end of life for a whale, also known as a whale fall, when its body sinks to the ocean floor and becomes an energy-rich food source for organisms living in the deep sea. When a whale dies, its massive body silently sinks down, down, through the inky darkness, finally coming to rest on the silty seafloor. For the whale, it’s the end of a 70-year-long life. But for a little-known community of deep-sea dwellers, it’s a new beginning. First come the hungry hagfish, which can smell the whale from miles around. Then the sleeper sharks begin their prowl, feasting on skin and blubber. After about six months, the meat is gone. Year after year, decade after decade, the whale nourishes all kinds of organisms from zombie worms to squat lobsters to deep-sea microbes. This completely fascinating real-life phenomenon is brought to vivid and poetic life by nonfiction master Melissa Stewart and acclaimed illustrator Rob Dunlavey.

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