|
Words by maggie davis,
Illustrated by Jennifer Barrett
O'Connell
| Follow a young boy's imagination as he dreams
about the magnificent whales of the sea—and worries about their
future. Young readers will be drawn into his quest to help the endangered
whales and will delight in his fantastical plan to fill the sea
with whales again. This unusual story celebrates the unity of the
human and animal worlds. |
a celebration of
kinship for Earth's children
ISBN: 0944475353 |
"This tale of deliverance unfurls in
luscious prose that rolls trippingly off
the tongue. Like a contemporary
'Kubla Khan' for kids . . ."
—Publisher's Weekly
recipient of
Vermont Publishers Association Special Merit Award
Published by Firefly
Books, Ltd.
Order this book
|
From Horn Book:
A young boy, fearful that whales are disappearing
from the earth, imagines how they might be saved. His dreamlike
solution is conveyed by a rhythmic text and lush illustrations
that feature cavorting, majestically powerful whales. The poetic,
somewhat surreal quality of the story is appealing.
Copyright © 1993 The Horn Book, Inc.
All rights reserved. This text refers to the hardcover edition of
this title. |
| introductory material to A Garden
of Whales from Eskimo Songs and Stories,
selected and translated by Edward Field
(copyright © 1973 Delacorte Press/Seymour Lawrence) |
In the very earliest time,
when both people and animals lived on earth,
a person could become an animal if he wanted to
and an animal could become a human being.
Sometimes they were people
and sometimes animals
and there was no difference.
All spoke the same language.
That was a time when words were like magic.
The human mind had mysterious powers.
A word spoken by chance
might have strange consequences.
It would suddenly come alive
and what people wanted to happen could happen—
all you had to do was say it.
Nobody can explain this:
That's the way it was. |
|
A portion of the author's proceeds
from this book is given to Earth
Island Institute, an organization dedicated to developing
innovative projects for the conservation, preservation and restoration
of the global environment. (Keep in touch with Earth Island Institute
for whale and dolphin updates.)
"A Garden of Whales poured out of me in the early nineties,
in response to the intensifying plight of dolphins and whales
at human hands. Although I didn't publish Whales, the book is just as much a celebration
of kinship with all life as my books
which followed.
The original publisher of Whales was Camden House. The
publisher asked me to find an illustrator for Whales and
from a series of serendipities arose Jennifer Barrett O'Connell.
Jennifer and I collaborated by phone for this book project, illustrations
and ideas springing back and forth between Maine and Bethesda,
MD with accelerating gusto. I hope I may speak for both of us
when I say it was a triumphant journey.
As did Cara Raymaker, teenage illustrator
of Glory! to the Flowers,
Jennifer made room in her illustrating process for me to offer
a suggestion here and there those times my mind was shimmering
with mental pictures. This 'closet Van Gogh' is forever grateful."
from maggie's bio page in Whales.
. .
"I wish we could bring back whales to the sea by growing
them in gardens, but we can't. We must, while they are still with
us, honor whales' right to exist. We must honor all beings who
rely on us, by using only our fair share of earth's gifts. This
we must do through service—through action—and not just with
our eager pounding hearts."
| Riddle: How is a warbler a lot like a whale?
For the answer, read the following excerpt from Caring
in Remembered Ways, maggie's new
book.
A while back our talented friend Paul Sullivan gave
a concert in our town. During the concert, Paul introduced
us to his new synthesizer. Two or three times, the synthesizer
bleeped when it should have blooped and blipped when it
should have blapped. In true Victor Borgian style, Paul
sprinkled in comments that set the audience rolling with
laughter. It was after the show, though, that magic happened.
Paul played something wondrous and unexpected, then, stunning
those of us who'd stayed to listen.
The first music we heard was the song of a yellow-throated
warbler. Paul had entered the song on his synthesizer from
a dat tape he'd recorded in the woods behind his home, up
here on our Maine peninsula.
Slowly, Paul decreased the vibration of the warbler's
song. Before we knew what was happening, we were listening
to the song of a humpback whale. Back and forth Paul moved
us—whale to warbler, warbler to whale. Everything I had
ever said, or written, or witnessed regarding the interconnectedness
of all life paled in the brilliance of those moments.
Read more excerpts from maggie's
book. Caring in Remembered Ways is for all of
us—young or older, well or in pain, joyful or sorrowing,
evergrowing, who choose to bring our love to life. Order
your copy today.
|
A river dolphin isolated in capitivity
for thirty years moves to embrace the first person sent
in to swim with him. A woman who gave birth to a stillborn
child is greeted by two dolphins in the wild, one who has
just lost her young and one who is pregnant. A little boy
learns to walk agan, touched by healing dolphins.
In the end, dolphins will tend us as long as there are
dolphins at all. In the end, for them, there is no end
of love.
from maggie's most recent book,
Caring in Remembered Ways |
A Garden of Whales is available from your
local bookstore or from:
FIREFLY
BOOKS, LTD. |
(Toll-free):
in the U.S. 1-800-387-5085
1-800-565-6034 (fax)
in Canada 1-800-387-6192
1-800-450-0391 (fax) |
Some Dolphin and Whale links . . .
Sea
Shepherd Conservation Society
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has been on
the front lines since 1977, directly defending the world's marine wildlife
to maintain global biodiversity. This is achieved through the research,
investigation and video-documentation of violations of international
laws, regulations and treaties established to protect these species.
Interview with Scott Taylor regarding
The
Legend of the Golden Dolphin
The Legend of the Golden Dolphin is many things:
it is a collection of traditional tales, telling of the role the Dolphin
has played in the development of human culture. From India, Sumeria,
Chaldea, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Mali, South Africa, Australia, China,
the South Pacific, the Amazon basin and Central and North America
come mythic tales of a deep connection between Humans and Dolphins;
it is a legend in the sense of an explanatory footnote, indicating
the significance of certain features in the map or image one is examining;
it is a prophetic message, declaring the advent of a return of a Spirit
which has enlightened mankind for many centuries, that of the Golden
Dolphin, or the Spirit of Freedom.
Read excerpts from maggie's
most recent book . . .
maggie s davis
324 Grant Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605
e-mail: maggiesdavis@gmail.com
Copyright © 1996 - 2023 maggie s davis. All Rights Reserved. |
