Baby Ballena (Bilingual English-Spanish Edition) - (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A fascinating glimpse into a baby whale's first migration from Mexico to Alaska; with a text in both English and Spanish

When Juana is born in the warm waters of Mexico, the little gray whale isn't quite what you'd call little--she's already as big as a boat, and drinks over fifty gallons of milk a day to keep growing! Soon it's time to make a long journey with her pod to their summer feeding grounds. They swim north day and night, passing many familiar landmarks and carefully avoiding orcas and fishing nets. After spending the summer eating their fill in Alaskan waters, Juana and her pod return to their beautiful Mexican lagoon, where another baby is about to be born, and the cycle begins again.

Eye-catching illustrations and a playful narrative in Spanish and English combine to shine a light on these magnificent creatures--and are sure to inspire a new generation of whale lovers.

Review Quotes

"Gundersheimer--an award-winning children's musician who performs under the name Mister G--follows a young gray whale on her first migration. Though Juana was--literally--born yesterday, in the warm waters of a Mexican lagoon, she's ready to meet the world. . . . Bathed in a calming glow, Almada Rivero's inviting illustrations depict Juana as a wide-eyed, curious youngster with a winsome smile, surrounded by equally cheery-looking animals. Soothing, upbeat text presented in both English and Spanish makes for a comforting read. A few basic facts, mostly related to whale size and diet, are gently woven in ('I drink fifty gallons of milk a day'), though Gundersheimer doesn't delve too deeply into the topic; additional information is included in the author's note. A satisfying account of an endearing young marine mammal's first forays into the world." --Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Ben Gundersheimer (MisterGSongs.com and BenGundersheimer.com) is a Latin Grammy Award-winning artist, author, playwright and educator. Hailed as "a bilingual rock star" by The Washington Post, he was originally dubbed "MISTER G" by his elementary school students while pursuing a Master of Education degree. His dynamic bilingual performances aim to dissolve borders and foster cross-cultural connections. Ben is also the author of Señorita Mariposa, We'll Make Things Better Together, Lilah Tov Good Night, and How Many Squirrels Are in the World?, all of which are based on his original songs. He lives in the woods of Western Massachusetts with his wife, Katherine; rescue mutt, Josie; and cat, Chloe Bird.

Marcos Almada Rivero (MarcosAlmadaIlustrador.blogspot.com) illustrated How Many Squirrels Are in the World?, Señorita Mariposa (both written by Ben Gundersheimer), and Family Is Family (written by Melissa Marr) and has written and illustrated several picture books in Spanish. He also works on animation projects as a writer, illustrator, and art director. He lives in Mexico City with his wife and two amazing kids.