CCBC booklist are compiled from books we have recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices. Most of these booklists are updated annually. You can also select books from one or more booklists to create a custom list, which can also include additional books from the CCBC-Recommended Book Search.
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Whales in the City
CCBC Review:
The return of whales to the rivers and waterways around New York City after decades of pollution is at the center of this book’s narrative about the impact of the Clean Water Act of 1972 and the rise of the environmental movement. The text and visuals work in tandem to show how whales and other aquatic creatures around New York City thrived before the arrival of Europeans by boat, and how the eventual urban development drastically changed the water quality over time. A sickening scene of fish and whales coming to the surface to try to get a breath of fresh air expounds on the impact of human activity and contamination. Information about whales, the Hudson River, and environmental advocacy completes this impactful picture book. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Chuck Groenink
CCBC Age Recommendation: 8-12
Age Range:
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Animals (Informational)
Environmental Challenges
On CCBC Booklist:
Eco-Reading: Selected Books for Children and Teens about Our Earth and the Environment
Publishers:
Farrar Straus Giroux, Macmillan
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9780374308568
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 599 Castaldo
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Our Recommended Book Search includes access to CCBC-recommended titles based on subject headings created by our staff.
Please send questions or comments about CCBC booklists to ccbcinfo@education.wisc.edu.