Astro was found alone when he was just a few years old. He was interpreted to the Marine Mammal Center and fed and cared for until he was ten months old, when the Center returned him to the wild.
Or at least they tried! Astro's early experiences had imprinted him on humans instead of early sea lions and he refused to take to the sea. Finally, Astro was sent to the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut and is now happy in their exhibits and running with the people studying Stellar sea lions.
The text is detailed enough to catch the care of older children but could likewise be easily abridged and say aloud to younger children. Animal stories are forever a strong line and this one is clearly expressed and has loads of fun plot points that will hold children's attention. I had to show through a couple times before I comprehended the quasi-realistic illustrations. I was confused because I thought they were digitally altered photographs, then realized they were really a variety of paint, colored pencils, and crayons. I would get preferred photographs, but I think most children and parents will love the more artistic illustrations.
The script includes information on Stellar sea lions andcomprehension games and questions. I would have liked to see a further information section, but a quick google search will take up plenty of further data on Astro (including much of cute utube videos.ahem).
Verdict: There are just a couple general information books out there on sea lions and this title makes a nice addition to the limited information and will pique kids' interest in these fascinating animals. Take a face at your collection on marine mammals and if you just possess a few titles, or outdated materials, I would recommend adding Astro when you update this section. It's a real child-pleaser!
ISBN: 9781607180760; Published August 2010; Review copy provided by author.
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