A Dolphin Goes to School : The Story of Squirt, a Trained Dolphin

Grade 4-6 Captured in the Gulf of Mexico and then transferred carefully by truck to a dolphin training school in North Carolina and eventually to performance sites in Virginia and Ohio, Squirt is followed through several months of training. The fictionalized account serves as a vehicle for conveying information about dolphin physiology, behavior, and capabilities in learning to perform tricks for marine shows. Smith briefly mentions federal regulations governing capture of dolphins and remains non-judgmental about aspects of exploitation in the permanent separation of the animals from their natural habitat solely for human entertainment. Gray watercolors in a pleasant format illustrate elements of the story (one labeled picture serves as a diagram of body parts) and further the impression of a work of fiction. Since there are few books on this subject currently in print for a comparable age group, libraries may find this useful as an information source and as reading material for children who enjoy animal "biographies." Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.