Beneath the Atlantic Ocean, a humpback whale streaks skyward. It bursts into the air and then vanishes beneath the waves with a sparkling splash. Although whales are mammals, and not fish, they are comfortably at home in the water. But scientists have discovered something surprising about these water lovers . . . Their ancient ancestors lived on land. Here’s what the whales’ earliest known relative looked like:
By studying fossils and DNA evidence, scientists have learned much about the whales’ journey from land to sea.
They have also figured who the whales’ closest living relative is.
You can find the answer in my Scholastic story, THE WHALES’ VOYAGE.
To get the fascinating facts, I interviewed John Flynn, of the American Museum of Natural History. Flynn is co-curator of the exhibition, “Whales: Giants of the Deep.” The exhibition leads visitors on adventures with models of these mighty creatures. Visitors can take a virtual dive with a sperm whale as it hunts for giant squid. Or they can crawl through a car-size replica of a blue whale’s heart. To learn more:
You can view or download my new school program brochure:
AUTHOR PROGRAMS/VISITS BROCHURE
See our photography web site: http://www.agpix.com/cohen
Judith Jango-Cohen 
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