I dedicate this book to four teachers. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Tan, who taught me how to share. To Mrs. Mandile for teaching me in 1st and 2nd grade. She taught me how to be patient. Then to Mrs. Mattson who taught me how to create art. Finally, to Mrs. P who helped me take these papers, put them together, and write the words down on these pages. I remember you and you helped me more than you know.

At 12:00 mid-day, the coraly bottom of the Atlantic Ocean warms, moss grows on rocks, a sea star rests, and seaweed wavers in the bright morning. Above water a brilliant sky glimmers and a silky dolphin jumps out to a meringue sky. But underwater, it is bustling busy. The water laps quietly against the shimmering sand. Noodle, a long snouted spinner dolphin spirals gracefully in the morning mist, hoping to find a beautiful mate on this bright morning.

Noodle playfully darts in and out between seaweed. The water is alive and bubbles float everywhere at his playful movements. The seaweed sways quietly. The sincere sea stars lay on green moss. In the underwater world, statued stone and silent shells lay in their places, each thinking different thoughts. Then, suddenly, Noodle tastes water from the bay he recognizes. But there is something different. Something suspicious… The fishes speed away swishing through the water. Noodle investigates the taste of the bay. He swims low. He knows that’s the wrong choice a second after he does it. He has seen fishermen’s nets before. They are like jails. Now he is caught!!!

Noodle frantically sends out a series of high- pitched sounds and low- pitched groans. No one replies. Finally, he tries echo- location. He struggles against the tightly woven net. What is he going to do? He does not even have a mate who will come looking for him, though he has left his loving mother whom he has loved dearly. He vows when he is out of the trap, he will fight for his baby’s freedom. Noodle looks around for something he can use to get out of the trap. The seaweed is useless, so are the rocks, sea star, and green moss. Blue, purple and white bubbles float around him. The fish circle Noodle, taunting him.

Finally, Noodle spots a mate. He sends out a high-pitched squeak “HELP”. She gracefully skims the water and nuzzles the fisherman’s net. It slowly comes apart. A smile lights up Noodle’s face as he bursts out of the net. Bubbles float around him welcoming him to freedom. The green, pink and purple spotted coral perk up when they see Noodle back home.

The next day, Noodle and his mate gently nuzzle each other with their long snouts. Smiling and clicking, together at last. Their home is a cozy spot surrounded by pink coral. Seaweed sways steadily in the bay. The morning sunlight streams in like a stained-glass window. The sand glistens like diamonds. The rocks lay quietly. This is their home.

Happily, the sky bursts into vibrant colors. Water splashes up from the morning ocean. The purple sea star plays hide and seek with the shells. Its hiding place is behind the rocking seaweed. Mother sea star watches the hide-and-seek game. Baby long snouted spinner dolphin jumps out of the Atlantic waters with his family. The smallest oceanic dolphin is having the biggest dolphin’s adventure! Their long snouts touch the foamy water and their hearts connect.

About the Author

Joanna Munson-Palumba is a student is Mrs. Mattson’s 3rd grade class. She lives in Watertown, MA. She enjoys reading. But most of all she loves non-fiction writing. For example, her last report was on Long-Snouted Spinner Dolphins, which led to this book. This is her 2nd book. She enjoyed writing this book because she got to research a lot on one animal and write a report on it, and then make collages to match the words. Joanna lives with her brother Nathaniel, nicknamed Nate. Nate is in 7th grade and is 13 years old. Her mom and dad are Ann Munson and Tony Palomba, who is currently the Watertown Town Councilor and President of WCES. He is very active in Watertown. Joanna enjoyed creating this book and she hopes you enjoyed it too!

This is one of the many books that came to life while students in Mrs.

Mattson’s 3rd grade class explored the rich relationship between visual

imagery and the written word. This book was created as a part of Image-

Making Within the Writing Process, a dynamic art-and-literature-based

approach to writing developed by Beth Olshansky at the University of New

Hampshire. Image-Making uses hand-painted textured papers as the raw

materials for creating collage stories and poetry. Unlike a more traditional

writing process, within Image-Making the pictures always come first. This

offers students with diverse learning styles essential visual and kinesthetic

tools for rehearsing, drafting, and revising their ideas long before setting

pencil to paper. Image-Making was validated by the US Department of

Education as an “innovative and effective literacy program” in 1993. Today

children around the world use this process to create books in many

languages.

Spring, 2010