A review by ashylibrarian
Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall by Lynn Brunelle

informative medium-paced

5.0

Did you know that a whale can live to around 90+ years old, but that its life is only the beginning of its impact on the ecosystem?  

This is a beautifully illustrated informational picture book that tells the story of what happens to the ecosystem after a blue whale dies. 

One of my favorite aspects of this book is how well the text and illustrations partner to tell the story.  Caldecott Medalist Jason Chin supports the brilliant text with detailed and eye-catching illustrations. Lynn Brunelle offers bite-sized chunks of information to keep readers wanting more. For example, when Brunelle is explaining the various organisms that benefit from the whale fall, Chin partners the text with illustrations of those organisms to further understand how everything is connected. 

The backmatter is filled with even more facts about blue whales, ecosystems, and the four phases of whale fall.