While only a few days old, an orphaned Steller sea lion pup is rescued by California’s Marine Mammal Center staff, who name him Astro. After much nurturing and care, Astro is healthy enough to return to the ocean, but because of his bonding with humans, he persistently returns to land, preferring people and populated settings to sea life. Ultimately, Astro finds a permanent and happy residence at Connecticut’s Mystic Aquarium. Harvey’s debut picture book is a fictionalized account of the real-life Astro’s experiences, and the lively text, printed in a large, easy-to-read type, is filled with intriguing specifics: baby Astro is fed a whipped-cream-and-herring smoothie, for example. The photorealistic, mixed-media illustrations have a flat feel, but the characters’ expressive faces bring some emotional depth. The extensive back matter includes Steller Sea Lion facts; a map-related activity; an anagram to remember events in a sea lion’s life cycle; and the similarities and differences between sea lions and seals. A touching, informative introduction to the species. Grades 1-3.

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