Sea Otter Rescue: The Aftermath of an Oil Spill »

When the Exxon Valdez struck the rocks in Prince William Sound, Alaska, nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled into the water. The result was an oil slick which threatened all of the area wildlife, especially the sea otters. This is the story of the animal rescue experts who went to Alaska to lend a hand. Illustrated with the author's own photographs, Sea Otter Rescue is a fascinating first-hand account of the heroic measures taken to save the lives of hundreds of sea otters.<P>"Inspirational and sobering." --<i>Kirkus Reviews</i><P>"Smith provides a fascinating look at the dedicated individuals improvising tools and techniques in a desperate attempt to help the otters." --<i>Kirkus Reviews</i><P>* A Picture Puffin <br>* Full-color illustrations<br>* 64 pages<br>* Ages 7 up

School Library Journal

Gr 5-6-- Focusing on a single species, Smith illustrates the damage the Exxon Valdez oil spill caused to all species in Alaska's Prince William Sound in the spring of 1989. After the accident, oil coated the sea otters' fur, inhibiting their ability to hunt and fouling their internal organs after grooming. Although the writing is sometimes dry, this information-packed book not only introduces the sea otter but also describes what was involved in setting up an animal-rescue operation in a small, remote town. Almost every page has an excellent quality, full-color photograph of a different phase of the rescue. Although an estimated 1000 sea otters were lost, of the 342 sea otters brought to the rescue centers, nearly 75% were saved. -- Frances E. Millhouser, Reston Regional Library, VA