Whale Fall Café
What’s inside...
This engaging book explores the unique ecosystem that forms around a whale carcass when it lands on the deep ocean floor. It introduces readers to strange and fascinating creatures such as hagfish, zombie worms, and sleeper sharks that feast on the whale remains. A fish in a lab coat acts as a guide, piloting a deep-sea submersible to explore this bizarre underwater scene. The book includes scientifically accurate information with contributions from Dr. Robert Vrijenhoek of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Dr. Craig Smith, a deep-ocean ecologist at the University of Hawaii, alongside rare whale-fall photos.
Age
7-10
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think happens at the Whale Fall Café?
Why do you think the sea creatures gather when a whale falls?
How do you feel about the way the underwater community helps each other?
What did you learn about the circle of life from this story?
If you could create a menu for the Whale Fall Café, what would it include?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by asking your child to describe their favorite sea creature from the book and why they like it.
Encourage your child to think about the ecosystem and the role each creature plays by asking them what would happen if one creature was missing.
Discuss the concept of life cycles and how everything in nature has a role, using examples from the book to illustrate your points.
Use expressive reading techniques, changing your voice for different characters, to make the story more engaging and help your child connect with the book.
After reading, engage your child in a creative activity, like drawing their own underwater café or writing a short story about another adventure beneath the sea.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of ecological balance
Explanation: The story illustrates how the whale's body supports an entire underwater ecosystem, highlighting each creature's role in maintaining ecological balance.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of every organism in the environment, promoting actions that support ecological conservation.
Example Lesson: Cycle of life
Explanation: Through the transformation of the whale's body into a thriving ecosystem, the book teaches readers about the natural cycle of life and death.
Real-World Application: This understanding helps children accept natural life processes and the concept of renewal in nature.
Example Lesson: Collaboration and community
Explanation: Various sea creatures work together to benefit from the whale fall, demonstrating effective teamwork.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to collaborate and see the value in working together towards common goals in their own communities.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and learning
Explanation: The exploration of the deep-sea ecosystem sparks curiosity about marine biology and the science of ecosystems.
Real-World Application: This can motivate children to explore and learn more about different scientific fields and the mysteries of nature.