Keiko's Story: The Real-Life Tale of the World's Most Famous Killer Whale - Softcover

Hammond, Diane C.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0966577817 ISBN 13: 9780966577815

Publisher: Peduncle Pr Inc, 1998

Synopsis

Book by Hammond, Diane C.

About this title

From the Publisher

This lavishly illustrated 24-page book for children is the only book on the market about this courageous whale. It tells the story of Keiko, the real-life star of the Free Willy movies, from his capture as a baby in Iceland, through his amusement park days, to his rehabilitation in Newport, Oregon, and his eventual return to his native Icelandic waters. Writer Diane Hammond knows Keiko's story from personal experience, having served as his spokesperson and press secretary since 1995. On behalf of both the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Free Willy Keiko Foundation, she has communicated and interpreted Keiko's story to news organizations around the world, and has worked closely with Keiko and his training team since the killer whale's arrival in Oregon. A published author of adult fiction, this is her first children's book. Nyna Somerville, the talented illustrator of Keiko's Story, has been personally acquainted with Keiko since 1996 when she drew the first picture of the killer whale in his Oregon pool. As a graphic artist and then as a book illustrator she has captured his essence hundreds of times since that early January day and through her art has communicated his personality, grace, and beauty to Keiko fans the world over.

From the Author

I take particular pleasure in bringing Keiko's story to the world. During the more than two years that Keiko was in Oregon, I have watched thousands of people - mostly children -- file by his tank, marveling at his power and gentleness. I watched Keiko grow from a skinny, sickly teenage whale to a sleek, fat, powerful adult - one ready to take the next step toward freedom. From Keiko's frst appearance on American screens as the star of Free Willy, he appealed to a whole generation of children and their families who took his cause to heart and began a letter-writing campaign that resulted in his move to Newport, and a second chance at freedom. It is to those children and to the patient people at the Free Willy Keiko Foundation, who healed and taught him, that this book is dedicated.

About this edition

• Publisher: Peduncle Pr Inc
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0966577817
• ISBN 13: 9780966577815
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 24
• Illustrator: Somerville Nyna