"Dory Story"

Dory Story
Author: Jerry Pallotta
Illustrator: David Biedrzycki
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Realistic Fiction, Adventure
Theme: Food Web, Sea Life, Imagination
Primary/Secondary Characters: Danny, Sea Life, Mom
Date of Publication: Year 2000
Publishing Company: Charlesbridge Publishing

Summary: Young Danny decided he wanted to learn more about the life of plankton in the sea, so he rowed his dory out into the middle of the ocean to find them. His mother always told him not to go out alone, but he figured he would be alright. Soon, the animals started a chain reaction and demonstrated the food web, as the sand eels were eating the shrimp, the mackerels eating the sand eel, and the bluefish eating the mackerel. Killer and humpback whales were in the food web, as well, and they knocked the dory right over, and Danny had to swim to safety. He made it on top of a huge rock, away from all the danger, when he heard his mother's voice. Danny had been using his imagination the whole time, and in reality, was playing with his toys in the bathtub. This story could be used in a classroom as it teaches about the food web in a fun and adventurous way. Children will learn what eats what, and just how the web functions. This could be used in an ocean and animal unit, and also keeps students attention with the action and twist at the end of the book.