Whales and Dolphins Inspire Reading on International Children’s Book Day
Everywhere around the world, children and families alike come together and celebrate the literary world of children’s books. Books of all themes and storylines help shape the young minds of millions of children throughout countries worldwide. International Children’s Book Day is a celebration dating back to 1967. This commemorative day is held annually on April 2nd to honor the birth of renowned author Hans Christian Andersen, notable for writing popular stories including one of our favorites called “The Little Mermaid,” “The Ugly Duckling,” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” International Children’s Book Day is a day globally recognized for celebrating authors and books all around the world. Keep reading to find out more about the book we love the most!
So, why do we celebrate International Children’s Book day each year? This day is ‘o-fish-ally’ designed to inspire young readers to support and grow their love for reading of course! So, what types of books are most important to choose for young readers? The best books for children are those written to inspire and ignite a passion for reading.
International Children’s Book Day promotes exercising the brain, helping kids to foster deeper neural connections. Reading a vast array of stories including both fact and fiction books also promotes a child’s increased vocabulary and deeper awareness of the world around them. Through written words, character development can do more than just grow a child’s vocabulary. Words and stories of both fantasy and truth can teach feelings like empathy and can even intensify an inner compass and morale. Emotional connections bridged together through reading are the foundations of creating limitless imaginations. After all, reading is fun and International Children’s Book Day is a day celebrating just that! If words can create enthusiasm for characters then they can also help bring uplifting feelings of one’s self and create an imaginative world that could set the tone for children to dream of accomplishing anything beyond their wildest dreams.
When it comes time to choose which book is right for your children, stretch their interests with books about unknown worlds. The world under the sea is the perfect place to begin. You never know which story may inspire the next Jaques Cousteau or Hans Christain Andersen! This year, we invite you to celebrate International Children’s Book Day with Capt. Dave’s award-wining book Lily, A Gray Whale’s Odyssey. This book follows one amazing gray whale’s journey in a colorful, award-winning picture and fact book filled with stunning photos and amazing facts about the migration of the incredible gray whale. With unique photos and an impactful story based on multiple true events, this book is the perfect choice for International Children’s Book day and is one that will have your entire family flippin’ through the pages too!
About the Book
National headlines were made in 2010 when a gray whale later to become known as Lily was tangled in gill nets and stranded herself within the confines of the Dana Point Harbor. Capt. Dave spearheaded hands-on involvement with Lily the gray whale’s disentanglement. To raise awareness, Capt. Dave authored the award-winning book “Lily, A Gray Whale’s Odyssey,” a captivating and scientifically accurate tale of a gray whale’s migration with breathtaking photographs and a foreword by Jean-Michel Cousteau.
While at the time, the book was not specific to readers geared towards International Children’s Book Day, this book became more than a story. Lily, A Gray Whale’s Odyssey paints the picture of how Capt. Dave helped support and organize Orange County’s first whale entanglement group in 2008. If you are looking for an inspiring book to read aloud to your kids for International Children’s Book Day or have an older reader who has a love for whales, then Lily, A Gray Whale’s Odyssey is an approachable, readable book. Perfect for your family!
This coffee table collectible combines scientific text full of amazing gray whale facts, information, maps, and photographs, with stunning and unusual pictures and a detailed account of a whale disentanglement. This book will inspire your young readers well beyond International Children’s Book Day through a timeless story inspired by multiple actual events. Don’t just take our word for it. This book won several honors and awards in 2013, including the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Award for Best New Voice from the Independent Book Publishers Association.
Reading Lily for International Children’s Book Day maybe our top choice for books. Purchasing a book while aboard our catamaran safari on Manute’a is one of our top five reasons to go whale watching that will enhance even the youngest readers! So book a Dana Point whale watching safari with Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari and be sure to buy your copy of Capt. Dave’s book, Lily, A Gray Whale’s Odyssey for International Children’s Book Day when you visit us!
If picking up a copy has you wondering how you can bring the words on paper into real life, then book a trip today, so your family can feel the power of the sea.
Until next time,
Jess Wright
First Mate and Marine Naturalist
Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari