Prince William

by Gloria Rand, Ted Rand (Illustrator)

Overview

Based on the true story of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska, Gloria Rand's children's picture book Prince William is a tale of compassion and environmentalism—beautifully illustrated by Ted Rand.

In Prince William Sound, Alaska, a tanker crashes on a reef and spills millions of gallons of oil into the waters.

On a beach nearby, a little girl named Denny finds a baby seal covered with oil. It is barely alive. How can she save its life?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780805033847
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	03/15/1994
Series:	Rise and Shine
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	488,120
Product dimensions:	8.95(w) x 12.00(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	AD640L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Gloria and Ted Rand are a husband-and-wife team who have collaborated on a number of picture books, including Mary Was a Little Lamb and A Home for Spooky. The Rands live on Mercer Island in Washington State.

Editorial Reviews

Denny proves that one child can make a difference.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

The tragic effects of the Valdez oil spill on the creatures that inhabit Prince William Sound are embodied in one girl's efforts to save a baby seal drenched in oil. Denny and her mother take the pup, which she names Prince William, to the makeshift rescue center set up in the gym of a nearby school. A corps of volunteers revives the animal, but the veterinarian informs Denny that most are not so lucky: ``I've seen it happen before--bears and their cubs, wolverines and eagles. You name it, they're all being poisoned by the spill.'' Gloria Rand's (the Salty Dog books) descriptive text escapes heavy moralizing by focusing on the seal's progress and on the community's intensive volunteer activities. Though she avoids any mention of this event's political ramifications, a powerful message is adroitly conveyed without laying blame. Ted Rand ( Night Tree ; Barn Dance! ) paints a title character to melt the hearts of all; the oversize images in his vibrant paintings capture, as always, the sweep of the outdoors and the humanity of the spirit. Ages 6-8. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

K-Gr 4-- After a tanker accident occurs near her home on Prince William Sound, Denny discovers an oil-covered, newborn seal on a polluted beach. The baby is rushed to a busy animal rescue center, where dedicated veterinarians and volunteers care for the wildlife affected by the disaster. The girl names the seal Prince William and follows his recovery over the next ten weeks. Progress is made on the beaches too, as cleanup efforts begin in earnest. Finally, Denny is present as the seal is flown to Halibut Cove and released into clean water. This straightforward story stresses the importance of community involvement, as volunteers work together to repair the damage done; one particulary effective spread shows the harbor crowded with boats and planes, all carrying people ``who had come to help clean up the spill.'' In a time when young people are encouraged to become environmentally active, Denny proves that one child can make a difference. Vibrant watercolors capture both the horror of the puddinglike oil and the beauty of the unscathed northern landscape, and readers are left with the image of a bright-eyed and trusting Prince William. Pair this with Terry Carr's Spill! The Story of the Exxon Valdez (Watts, 1991). --Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library Journal

School Library Journal