Eagle of the Sea
by Kristin Bieber Domm
illustrated by Jeffrey Domm
Nimbus Publishing, 2010
ISBN 978-1-55109-749-7(sc)
$9.95, 32 pp, ages 6 – 9
www.nimbus.ca
At seventy-six centimetres tall and weighing up to seven kilograms, the bald eagle is Canada’s largest raptor. Although this engaging bird is struggling to survive in many parts of North America, it is thriving in Nova Scotia. Protected by the Wildlife Act of 1987, bald eagles benefit from habitat conservation and winter feeding programs in this province.
Eagle of the Sea is written in the first person and describes the life of an eagle family living at the Cole Harbour Salt Marsh on the east coast of Nova Scotia. This great bird’s habitat, life cycle, food and appearance are well described both in the text and the accurate and colourful illustrations. A page of eagle facts and information is also provided at the back of the book.
Classroom Connections: This book is accessible to fluent readers by the end of grade 2 and would also make a really good teacher “read aloud” for all primary grades. The book’s links to the Science curriculum make it a natural fit for many classroom themes. Having students make connections between the bald eagles of Nova Scotia to bald eagles in other habitats and regions of Canada, to other birds of prey and to the various animals in its food chain are just some of the possible ways to teach connecting as a reading strategy.
Review by Brenda Boreham.
This review is from Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Nov/Dec 2012 issue.
