Pearl's Ocean Magic (Dolphin School #1)

by Catherine Hapka, Hollie Hibbert (Illustrator)

Overview

Going to dolphin school under the sea is a magical experience for Pearl and her friends!

Pearl is a magical dolphin of the Salty Sea, and today is her first day of school. Her classmates Echo and Splash make great new friends! Together they start learning dolphin skills like magic, music, and jumping.But another student, Flip, just won't stop bragging. And when he accepts a dare from an older student, he ends up in terrible danger from a shark! Can Pearl and her friends save him? It's an exciting first day at Dolphin School!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545940818
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	06/28/2016
Series:	Dolphin School , #1
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
Lexile:	550L (what's this?)
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Catherine Hapka has written many books for children and young adults. She lives in Pennsylvania and enjoys reading, horseback riding, music, gardening, and traveling.

Editorial Reviews

2016-04-13
Young dolphin Pearl encounters braggarts, bullies, and friends during her first day at magical dolphin school.The Coral Cove Dolphin School is where young dolphins go to learn the magical skills they need for their roles as protectors of the ocean. Pearl's excited on her first day. To help her, Pearl's father gives her the advice that becomes her didactic motto for the rest of the book: "Always choose kindness." At school, Pearl quickly makes friends but also encounters Flip, a cardboard character who exists just to brag. Of course Pearl, her new friends, and Flip all end up in the same pod. As the book progresses, the dolphins' character traits (boastfulness, impetuosity, kindness, etc.) are hammered in repetitively, interspersed with worldbuilding exposition communicated in lectures. At recess with older dolphins, they encounter a bully (no motivations needed—he's just a bully), who eventually dares Flip to swim alone in an area known for sharks. Sure enough, a shark appears, and the plucky heroes save the day (with the teachers arriving just in time for the danger to have passed). After this bonding experience, Flip no longer brags but is "smart and funny"—readers will have to take the narration's word for it, though, as it's just one last instance of telling instead of showing.Sinks. (Fantasy. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews