Honey Girl: The Hawaiian Monk Seal

Hawaiian locals and visitors always enjoy spotting endangered Hawaiian monk seals, but Honey Girl is an extra special case. She has raised seven pups, and scientists call her “Super Mom." After Honey Girl is injured by a fishhook, she gets very sick. Scientists and veterinarians work to save Honey Girl so she can be released back to the ocean. This true story will have readers captivated to learn more about this endangered species.

This work of narrative nonfiction includes a 4-page For Creative Minds section in the back of the book and a 26-page cross-curricular Teaching Activity Guide online. Honey Girl is vetted by experts and designed to encourage parental engagement. Its extensive back matter helps teachers with time-saving lesson ideas, provides extensions for science, math, and social studies units, and uses inquiry-based learning to help build critical thinking skills in young readers. The Spanish translation supports ELL and dual-language programs. The interactive ebook reads aloud in both English and Spanish with word highlighting and audio speed control to promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, text engagement, and reading comprehension. Tap animals and other things that make noise to hear their sounds.

Written by Jeanne Walker Harvey, Illustrated by Shennen Bersani
32 pg, 8.5x10, Ages 4-9, Grades K-3, Lexile: AD 730, AR: 4.2, F&P: P

Reviews:

An important book to place in the hands of all future conservationists. Highly recommended.
-School LIbrary Journal

Honey Girl is well-known in her habitat of the waters off northern Oahu...this very personal story should engage animal-loving readers.
-Kirkus Reviews

Harvey’s well-researched facts—verified by experts—are giftwrapped with skilled storytelling. She balances the serene and picturesque qualities that many associate with Hawaii and marine life, with the dangerous reality that marine life often face despite their beautiful surroundings. Her writing will appeal to the science-minded as well as those interested in a simply fascinating story. Award-winning illustrator Shennen Bersani’s beautiful artwork embodies tranquility and has a photographic quality that lends itself well to the text.
- The children's Book Review

Author/Illustrator Info:

Jeanne Walker Harvey is the author of several award-winning books, including Astro: The Steller Sea Lion and My Hands Sing the Blues: Romare Bearden's Childhood Journey. She's been a language arts teacher and currently gives school tours at a local museum. Jeanne lives near the Golden Gate Bridge in California and walks by the bay every day looking for sea lions. She writes with her gray tabby cat sitting on the desk next to her. Visit her website at www.jeanneharvey.com

Shennen Bersani is an award-winning illustrator with 2 million copies of her books cherished and read by children, parents, and teachers throughout the world. Her art delivers heartfelt emotion, the wonders of nature and science, and creates a unique joy for learning. Some of Shennen's other illustrated works include River Otter's Adventures; Night Creepers; Cheetah Dreams; Animal Partners; Astro: The Steller Sea Lion; Home in the Cave; The Glaciers are Melting!; Once Upon an Elephant (CBC Children's Choice Book Award); Salamander Season; Sea Slime: It’s Eeuwy, Gooey and Under the Sea; The Shape Family Babies; and Shark Baby for Arbordale. She is also the author and illustrator of Achoo! Why Pollen Counts. Shennen lives with her family near Boston. Visit her website at www.shennenbersani.com.