Whale Man The Story of Jon Lien

When Jon and Judy Lien moved to the island of Newfoundland, they expected their new life to be an adventure--but what an adventure it became! Jon was a scientist, coming to study the storm petrel--a tiny sea bird. He made friends with fishermen, who took him out to neighbouring islands to study the local seabirds. And then, one day, a fisherman phoned him in a panic--a whale was tangled in his fishing net. Could Jon help him release the whale and save his fishing net? Jon had never attempted anything like that, but he agreed to try.

Not only did he save that whale, over the course of his life, Jon Lien went on to free more than 500 whales from fishing nets in Newfoundland and Labrador, and to teach others how to free them, too. Known as "The Whale Man," he was loved and respected throughout the province, and beyond.

This beautifully illustrated picture-book biography, written by Governor-General's award-winning playwright Robert Chafe, tells the story of Lien for young readers. Katie Arthur's gorgeous artwork brings the drama of that first release vividly to life. This is a beautiful celebration of a life well lived, sure to inspire young and old to care for and connect with the animals around them.