Internationally published author TIM ROCK has made numerous trips to Tonga and shares his insights into how to enjoy swimming with humpback whales. Humpbacks are magnificent Pacific nomads that migrate each year between Antarctica and Tonga, which is one of the few places in the world where visitors can legally swim with these amazing giants of the sea. The stunning 170 islands of Tonga offer adventure, culture, wonderful nature and of course, marine mammals galore. Humpbacks are one of the most surface-active whales in the world and sometimes launch themselves from the sea in spectacular breaches.This book is a bit of a new departure for author Tim Rock, who usually produces guides to famous scuba diving destinations. While Tonga does have some amazing scuba diving, in this book, Rock concentrates on viewing and interacting with humpback whales and the things one might experience during a Tonga whale season. This unique offering looks at many aspects of Tongan humpback whale behavior, from their great annual migration to life among the "Happy Isles". He has tips for above and underwater whale photography and tells fascinating tales of his personal experiences while swimming with humpbacks and folk he has encountered in the islands. See over 175 amazing images of humpback whale behavior, heat runs, mating sessions, mother and calf interactions, Tongan life and the beauty of the islands. This full color book explores each one of Tonga's island groups from south to north.

Jem Cresswell's striking anthropomorphic photographic work allows us to view the complex creatures that are humpback whales and the intimate bonds they form in a manner that is befitting of sentient beings who think, feel and communicate like we do. It opens a dialogue that mutes the distances between our species, creating a space in which the restless modern spirit is humbled into peaceful submission.

DIVPhotographer and conservationist Bryant Austin’s breathtaking photographic project Beautiful Whale is the first of its kind: It chronicles his fearless attempts to reach out to whales as fellow sentient beings. Featuring Austin’s intimate images—some as detailed as a single haunting eye—that result from encounters based on mutual trust, Beautiful Whale captures the grace and intelligence of these magnificent creatures. Austin spent days at a time submerged, motionless, in the waters of remote spawning grounds waiting for humpback, sperm, and minke whales to seek him out. As oceanographer Sylvia A. Earle says in her foreword to the book, “As an ambassador from the ocean—and to the ocean—Bryant Austin is not only a source of inspiration. He is cause for hope.†? Praise for Beautiful Whale: “You can’t help thinking, with every passing page, that this is what’s it’s like to swim with the whales.†? —The Wall Street Journal /div

Place of publication transcribed from publisher's website.

Long recognized as the premier travel writer to the South Pacific, author David Stanley narrows and deepens his focus in Tonga-Samoa Handbook. Covering the lush, tropical Samoas, the ancient Kingdom of Tonga, and lonely little Niue, this book provides: -- Penetrating coverage of the unique histories, cultures, and mores of the region -- Practical tips on flights to Tonga-Samoa and interisland travel -- Extensive accommodations listings, from the colorful International Dateline Hotel in Nuku'alofa to low-budget guesthouses in Apia -- Tips on where and what to eat: traditional Samoan palusami, the gargantuan Tongan feasts of Vava'u, and the pizzerias and mountainous ice-cream cones of Pago Pago -- 32 detailed maps

STEM for Kids ― Fun for Kids (Ages 8-10) #1 New Release in Children's Books: Environment & Ecology, Atlases, Anatomy, and Earthquake & Volcano In their debut illustrated science book for kids, the team behind the popular YouTube channel MinuteEarth answers all of your child’s wackiest questions about animals, nature, and science alongside engaging images of the natural world. From the scientists, writers, and illustrators at MinuteEarth. Have you ever wondered where Earth’s water came from? Or why leaves change color in the fall? Entertain and educate your kids with fun facts about animals, nature and the wonders of the earth. Amazing STEM for kids, explained simply. With over 300 million views, MinuteEarth simplifies such serious subjects as geology, ecology and biology making them fun for kids. Featuring their signature puns and fun illustrations, this first book in the MinuteEarth Explains series explores topics ranging from weird animal facts to extreme weather, making science for kids enjoyable and unforgettable. Curious questions about our awesome planet. Whether your child is obsessed with the wonder of nature, can’t learn enough interesting facts about animals, or is fascinated by volcanoes, MinuteEarth Explains captures their imagination and fosters an interest in animals, the Earth, and ocean life! By combining humor with rigorous research, this book provides fun facts about animals, nature, science and more in an equally engaging and informative way for kids. MinuteEarth Explains captivates kids with answers to: Why do some animals get gigantic? Why do rivers curve? Can plants talk? How much food is there on earth? And more! If you’re looking for nature books for kids (8-10) or earth science books for kids―or if your child loves books such as The Big Book of Birds, Why?: 1,111 Answers to Everything, or The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth―then your whole family will love this debut book by MinuteEarth!

Winner of the 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction * Finalist for the 2020 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction * Finalist for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award A “delving, haunted, and poetic debut” (The New York Times Book Review) about the awe-inspiring lives of whales, revealing what they can teach us about ourselves, our planet, and our relationship with other species. When writer Rebecca Giggs encountered a humpback whale stranded on her local beachfront in Australia, she began to wonder how the lives of whales reflect the condition of our oceans. Fathoms: The World in the Whale is “a work of bright and careful genius” (Robert Moor, New York Times bestselling author of On Trails), one that blends natural history, philosophy, and science to explore: How do whales experience ecological change? How has whale culture been both understood and changed by human technology? What can observing whales teach us about the complexity, splendor, and fragility of life on earth? In Fathoms, we learn about whales so rare they have never been named, whale songs that sweep across hemispheres in annual waves of popularity, and whales that have modified the chemical composition of our planet’s atmosphere. We travel to Japan to board the ships that hunt whales and delve into the deepest seas to discover how plastic pollution pervades our earth’s undersea environment. With the immediacy of Rachel Carson and the lush prose of Annie Dillard, Giggs gives us a “masterly” (The New Yorker) exploration of the natural world even as she addresses what it means to write about nature at a time of environmental crisis. With depth and clarity, she outlines the challenges we face as we attempt to understand the perspectives of other living beings, and our own place on an evolving planet. Evocative and inspiring, Fathoms “immediately earns its place in the pantheon of classics of the new golden age of environmental writing” (Literary Hub).

Tongan art, with its elegant sculpture, headrests, body adornment, clubs, containers, tools and fibre work, has made an outstanding contribution to the culture of Oceania. In The Art of Tonga, Keith St. Cartmail's achievement is to draw together all the strands of this island kingdom's material culture into a single volume--surprisingly no other work has done this to date. The author begins by outlining the history of Tonga, then comprehensively details all aspects of Tongan art, ancient and modern. He clearly documents the significance and widespread influence of this beautiful art work through West Polynesia, and argues that despite recent neglect, and in spite of being mutilated and destroyed by missionaries, and dispersed by collectors to all corners of the earth, Tongan art is nonetheless alive and well. Authoritative and accessible, The Art of Tonga is lavishly illustrated with superb and important examples of Tongan art from throughout its history. It is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the magnificent cultures of Oceania.