Walrus

The latest offering in the Animals Illustrated series introduces young readers to this large marine mammal frequently found in the Arctic waters surrounding Nunavut, Canada. Paniaq explains species terminology, range, skeletal features, diet, reproduction, predators, adaptations to the cold, and typical behaviors, using succinct double-page spreads. A final section notes Inuit uses (food, harpoon heads, and hunting tools) for this animal. Shannon's lifelike artwork places these brown, wrinkly, and flippered creatures front and center on most spreads, surrounded by the clear blue of their ocean habitat. The illustrations depict many of the details cited by Paniaq and sometimes make use of small insets to convey additional information. Specialized vocabulary is explained within the text, and artwork is advantageously placed (see the pages concerning whiskers and flippers, for example) to clarify the wording. Attractive and filled with fascinating details (walruses can feed for up to 79 hours straight and consume thousands of clams in one sitting), this will be a welcome source for browsers and report writers.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2017 Booklist

A look at an Arctic animal often overshadowed by its showier predators: polar bears and orcas. Young readers will learn the basics about walruses here: adaptations, young, social groups, feeding, anatomy, range, predators, dangers to humans, and Inuit use of walruses for meat and ivory for their harpoons. Paniaq focuses on a different topic on each spread. This makes the sometimes-lengthy text manageable for younger readers, especially considering the fascinating facts he salts throughout: walruses can feed for up to 79 hours straight and can eat thousands of clams in that time; a walrus's hide is covered in tiny hairs except for its flippers. Though some terms are defined in the text, younger readers might wish for a glossary, and there is also no index. Shannon's illustrations are quite lifelike and include a helpful silhouette of an adult human beside an adult walrus (a dramatic difference in bulk that figures alone can't quite capture), a labeled skeleton, and close-ups of the skull (with tusks), whiskers, and flippers. A good first look at walruses. (table of contents) (Nonfiction. 4-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.