Did you know that the average weight of a blue whale in the St. Lawrence is equal to that of 25 elephants? Or that the ancestors of whales were carnivorous land mammals that resembled dogs? This scientific book (a translation of Tant qu’il y aura des baleines) is teeming with fascinating details about the whales that journey to the St. Lawrence every summer, attracted to the chilly waterway by enormous schools of fish.

Evelyne Daigle, a biologist and a consultant with the Biodôme in Montreal, has studied whales in the St. Lawrence. Headings such as “Bubbles and Fun” and “Echo from the Deep” reveal the playful and mysterious side of whales. The book includes a discussion of food chains, underwater currents, echolocation, and careers for those interested in the study of cetaceans. A couple of sections are devoted to the diminishing numbers of whales, but this is not the thrust of the book.

The beautifully designed and illustrated cover depicts a mother and baby beluga dappled with ripples of sunshine in blue-green water. The inside of the book’s jacket becomes a lovely keepsake poster. Montreal artist Daniel Grenier has created accurate acrylic paintings that evoke a wonderful energy. Grenier’s portraits of whales celebrate their grace and splendour, but also their massive size and particular features. Children with an interest in whales, ecosystems, and conservation will be informed and intrigued by this authoritative, thoroughly engaging book, an important addition to Canadian collections.