If a Dolphin Were a Fish

by Loran Wlodarski

Book Overview

Join Delfina the dolphin as she imagines that she becomes other sea animals: a fish, a sea turtle, a pelican, an octopus, a shark, even a manatee The incredible morphing illustrations will have children laughing as they learn about the real differences between these ocean animals and their respective classes. This fictional story includes a 3-page For Creative Minds section in the back of the book and a 29-page cross-curricular Teaching Activity...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0976882329
• ISBN13: 9780976882329
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Arbordale Publishing
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.3" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 4 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

A Beautiful Book

If a Dolphin Were a Fish is an enchanting book about a dolphin who imagines what it would be like to be other creatures. The artwork is beautiful, and the imaginative way that other animals' features are incorporated into Delphina's body is creative and delightful. Art teachers, elementary classroom teachers, and others who work with children will find this an excellent resource. Comparing and contrasting the various animals' features and habitats, predicting which choice Delphina will make next, deciding whether she'll eventually be happy with her own status...are just a few of the thinking/discussion topics that this book presents. I love this book, and recommend it highly for children of all ages!

If A Dolphin Were A Fish

Delfina is a bottlenose dolphin. She swims through the pages of this beautifully illustrated book, imagining what it would be like to be something other than a dolphin. If she were a fish for instance, she could spend all of her time underwater. Unlike fish that have gills, Delfina has a full set of lungs and breaths through a blowhole on top of her head. Considering the life of a sea turtle does not appeal to her at all. Slowly lumbering along the beach to lay hundreds of eggs does not sound like a lot of fun. She much prefers to give birth to her calf underwater. She discards the idea of being a shark and being a manatee does not thrill her. The thought of being a bird covered in feathers is too funny to even consider. Being a boneless octopus is not to her liking either. A dolphin has a skeleton in its body made up of hard bones. Delfina has a backbone, skull and rib bones much like humans. She has five fingers inside of her front flippers that are similar to the bones in our hands. After considering all these alternatives, Delfina decides she likes who she is and has no desire to be anything else. Ask your child if he/she has ever thought of being someone else. This would be an excellent time to point out all of your child's unique attributes and celebrate who they are.

Delightful and Imaginative Book About a Very Special Dolphin

Here is a book about a very special dolphin, Delfina, who often wonders what it would be like to be a different animal. This clever story takes the reader through many different possibilities, including fish, sea turtle, shark, manatee, bird, and octopus. With each animal Delfina could be, the author explains why Delfina is not that animal and along the way, aided by the incredible "morphing" illustrations of artist Laurie Allen Klein, the reader learns exactly what makes Delfina a dolphin. An especially helpful section in the back of the book, "For Creative Minds" gives the reader even more information about dolphins and includes fun facts and, on the final page, a "Dolphin Adaption Craft" that will be a hit with any young dolphin fan. This book is sure to be a favorite of all young dolphin lovers. It would also be useful as part of an instructional unit on dolphins and/or sea animals.

Wonderful book

My kids loved this book. Can't go wrong. I bought a second copy for the school library so that more kids can enjoy this book. Educational story and beautiful pictures at the same time. We also enjoyed the sections in the back of the book that tell you more details about dolphins and a section on how to trace the dolphin and his different disguises. Great book - perfect for beginning readers as well.

If A Dolphin Were a Fish

This delightful book thrilled my neighbor's daughter,Kira. I bought it as a birthday gift, but it's such a great book, I had to give it to her now. The story is adorable and the illustrations are beautiful. Kira doesn't notice this, but the thing I like about the book is the educational value. The reader is learning while enjoying the story, as Delfina imagines herself as other sea creatures and how her body would be different. Not only are the illustrations beautiful, but they are funny as well. The way the dolphin's form is combined with other sea creatures is hilarious and surprisingly, graceful. You'll need to check out the sea turtle w/the dolphin head to see how that's possible! Overall, this book is jampacked w/education and entertainment and I highly reccomend it for the children in your life as well as your inner child.